"THE SORCERER."

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 23, 29 January 1881, Page 4

"THE SORCERER."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING POST. Sib — Your criticism on the performance of hist Friday, if somewhat severe, contains a measure of truth; but you do not make allowances for difficulties scarcely avoidable, and which were entirely overcome on Saturday. Your acumen might have enabled you to discover and allow for these. Having witnessed the entire performance on Saturday evening, from the front of the house, I am enabled to suggest that your closing remarks thereon, instead of "damning with faint praise, ' ' might rather have been written thus :—": — " On Saturday evening, however, the performance throughout was moat spirited, and a thorough success, the audience testifying by their amused faces and repeated 'encores' the pleasure they derived. We are of opinion that none of the previous performances of this opera approached in excellence that of the final one." The great expense of such performances almost precludes the idea of the Choral Society undertaking opera, at least for some time to come. I foel that I cannot say too much in praise of the hearty way in which ladies and gentlemen — the former all, and of the latter many, nnused entirely to the stage— came forward to assiduously practise and perfect themselves in this opera, with the view to aid the Society's funds. No pecpnhry benefit unhappily has been J derived, but at least much pleasure has been obtained both by the performers and the audiences. I trust one and all the singers will remain, or become members of the Society for the now season of normal concertgiving about to open. I am., &c, S.D. Wellington, 26th January. [Our correspondent entirely fails to make out any case in defence of the gross carelessness to which — and not to any lack of capacity, as the previous and subsequent performances proved— the failure of last Friday night's representation was due. The improvement on Saturday was no consolation to those of the public whose money was taken for the very poor eflort of Friday. — Ed. E.P.]