THE ROYAL COMIC OPERA COMPANY.

Evening Star, Issue 9582, 31 December 1894, Page 2

THE ROYAL COMIC OPERA COMPANY.

In 'Paul Jones' we find an agreeable change of bill. It has method without being weighted with undue seriousness; every scene brings its own contribution of legitimate comedy; the music is exceedingly pretty, occasionally reaching, to a high level of merit, as might be expected of a work from the con.poser of ' Les Cloches'; and a more vivacious performance of comic opera was never given in Dunedin. It caught on with the audience at once. 'Ma Mie Rosette' was watched out by some rather as a duty than as a pleasure—they had paid their money and would stop to the finish in the hope of finding the solemnity relax at some poiut or other. With 'Paul Jones' the case was quite different. The people wore laughing from the first rising of the curtain, and they watched the performance to the end with the closest interest, liberally applauding at frequent intervals, and encoring all the principal items. Miss Nellie Stewirt quite captivated the audience with her graceful and altogether charming impersonation of Yvonne, the ship chandler's niece, who has chosen a sweetheart for herself instead of accepting the one her relative intends for her. It would be pardonable if an actress cast for this part in succession to that of Rosette were to make ihc characters somewhat alike ; but that is just what Miss Nellie Stewart did not do. She evidently has a large func of resources, and, in whatever way this is drawn upon, the result is highly satisfactory. Every situation finds her ready, t.here is something about her that always "fetches" the public, and in all respects she fully justifies her claim to foremost honors in the particular line which she has made her specialty. This is a settled article of faith among theatregoers on the other side, and if any here have a doubt on the subject we recommend theni to pay ' Paul Jones' a visit and have their incredulity dissipated by the fascinating representation now billed-"nightly. Saturday's audience were quite at Miss Stewart's mercy, and accorded her a hearty encore, which we may say was fully deserved, for her singing of 'The merman's cave' and ' Before the altar.' The last-named i 3 a very pretty song, and a nice efftct is produced by the singer making her voice survive the accompaniment, in the finale. The representative of Paul Jones is called upon to make frequent protestation of his love for Yvonne, the only relief being an occasional scene with those Who oppose his suit, and in both capacities Mr Brownlow acquitted himself creditably. Making love seems to be an easy task to him, and he knows how to go through the business without sickening the onlookers. His singing, needless to say, was, quite up to the mark. For the romance ' Kver and ever mine' he received an encore (which, however, was declined), and be fairly shared with Miss Stewart the honors of the duet 'A little bird on weary wing.' Mr Tapley, cast as Etufiuo, the persistent though oft-refused suitor for Yvonne's hand, had a thankless ,aid rather barren part to perform, but was of considerable te.'vicein a general, way and received a merited round of applause for his singing of the serenade in the second act. Mr Arthur Lissant appeared to advantage as the amorous and covetous ship chandler Bicoquet, uncle to Yvonne, and Mr Sydney Doane, though called on for a very brief appearauce as the captain of a privateer, may be classed amongst those who helped to make the opera a success, while Mr Howard Vernon had a part quite to his taste in that of the Don Trocadcro, Governor of a Spanish settlement, and caused no end of amusement by his eccentric singing and dancing and. his mosquito business after the style of Barlow's 'Blue-tail fly.' Mr Laurie was simply immense, literally os well as figuratively, as the smuggle* fisherman Bouillabaisse, his antics and grotesque costumes and dry speeches causing no end of laughter right through the piece; and Mr Rosevcar stood in with the honors by doing what he could with the part of Petit Pierre (otherwise " The Insect'), who is the inseparable companion of Bouillabaisse. The duet ' Two mariners bold ' was encored again , and agair, so that several verses were added to this comic song, one of them containing an allusion to Mr Allen's speech at the High School, and suggesting that that member's "hash" would be settled by putting up a woman to oppose him for Bruce. Miss May Pollard and Mr W. Beaumont had lesser parts assigned to them, and the only other principal engaged was Miss Marietta Nash, who as Chopinette made a decided hit, bringing down the house and securing a double encore with the lively dance-song 'He looked at my sabots.' Tho dancers of the company gave a couple of novel ballets, and the whole body of assistants, those who did not as Well as those who did appear, deserve credit for the production, which necessitated a lot of heavy stage work. We would also again recognise the capital playing of M. Caron's orchertra. ' Paul Jones' will be repealed this evening. The box office for Tuesday and Wednesday will be at the Grand Hotel, and day sales for stalls and pit will take place at the Provincial Hotel tobacconist's.