THE OPERA.

Press, Volume XL, Issue 5812, 30 April 1884, Page 3

THE OPERA.

* " LA FILLE DU TAMBOUR MAJOR."

"La Mascotte" last night pave place to an opera with which Christchurch people are pretty familiar, viz., "La Fille dv Tambour Major," by Offenbach. Whether the withdrawal from the boards of the "Luck Bringer" or the weather was responsible, it is hard to say, but it is certain that the company cannot by any means be congratulated upon the musical success obtained by the production last night The opera was exceUently put on the stage, with aU the careful attention to detail which has been the characteristic of the company during its season. The scenery and dresses aukewere good, but in the principal item of success, viz., the rendering of the music, there was a great falling off. Comparisons, we are assured, on no less an authority than Mrs Malaprop, are odorous, but the opera waa by no means so successful, musically speaking, as when produced some time back by the MacaUum Company. Miss NeUie Stewart was the Stella, and she acted the part with a great deal of spirit, but she failed to infuse the life and go which she displayed in her acting into the music. This was particularly noticeable in the spirited song "Italia," which went very flatly, but was nevertheless encored. Her best efforts were " The Confession" in the first act and the duet "It must be now" in the second. The beautiful quartette " Once again" was fairly sung, and encored. Miss Fanny Liddiard played her old part of Griolef. and was exceedingly ! good both in her acting and singing. She aang " Cold as the Alp snow" very nicely indeed, as also the camp song. Her acting of tbe part was full of life and go, and throughout Bhe fully realised the part of a mischievous drummer boy. Miss Maggie Stewart played the Duchess, and sang the music allotted to the part fairly weU, but was exceedingly stiff as regards the actingportion of it Miss Osborne's really fine voice was heard to great advantage in the Uttle music allotted to Claudine, though she hardly infused enough life into the part for the dashing vivandiere. Mr Vernon, for some inscrutable reason, was cast for the Duke, Mr KeUy playing the Tambour Major. The exchange simply spoilt both. Mr KeUy was not a Buccess in his part, nor can Mr Vernon be fairly congratulated as to his rendering of the Duke, though it is only right to say that each did their best. Mr Wallace was exceUent as Bambini. Mr Woodfield, though lacking power to cope successfully with the part of Capitaine Robert, was yet very good. His best effort was an introduced song in the second act, whichisvery pretty and wasnicely given. The choruses were exceUent throughout, tho Voices blending weU and the various parts .being balanced. The ladies who danced the minuet in the third act are also entitled to a word of credit for the grace with which they went through the stately measures of this now obsolete dance. The orchestra under the baton of Mr. Harrison played weU throughout the evening, the overture especially being most carefully and artistically rendered. As already stated, the opera was excellently put on the stage, the dresses and scenery alike being rich and appropriate. "La Fille Dv Tambour Major" wiU be repeated this evening.