THE OPERA COMPANY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7228, 30 April 1884, Page 5

THE OPERA COMPANY.

“La Fills du Tambour Major.”

Last night tho Comic Opera Company now occupying tho Theatre Royal appeared in “ La Fillo du Tambour Major,” which was placed upon tho stage with every attention to scenery, drosses, and effect generally. As a spectacle, this revival loaves nothing to bo desired, tho whole of tho arrangements being on a scale of magnificence equal to anything that has yot been produced here. The orchestra, under tho hdton of Mr W. H. Harrison, did full justice to the music, which has been carefully scored ; and tho choruses wore given witli a precision and spirit which showed how painstaking must have been their preparation. Tho minuet in the second act was charmingly given. Though some of the principal characters wore entrusted to artists who had jireviously appeared hero in tho same opera, tho only role in which no change had been made was that of Griolot, who was impersonated by Miss Fanny Liddiard with all her former chic. She was in good voice, sang with accuracy, played with raciness, and executed her drum solo with the skill which made so telling a feature of her rendition. Her reception when scaling the convent wall in the first scone showed how groat her popularity is. Miss Nellie Stewart artistically showed the vivacity, archness, and love of fun pertaining to tho role of Stella, and rendered the music with a fulness which, considering her physique, was really surprising. All her principal airs were loudly applauded, and several were encOred. Miss Maggie Stewart looked very young for La Duchesse della Volta, hut played the part judiciously, and sang with much effect in tho duet with Monthabor in the last act. Miss Ida Osborne looked pretty as Claudine, and sang as prettily as she looked. Miss Bessie Harris was well cast for the Abbess. Mr W. H. Woodfield’s Capitaino Robert calls for no special mention ; it was a fairly even rendering, and received recognition amid the general distribution of honours at the" close of the acts. Mr Howard Vornon was Le Due della Volta. His face was wonderfully made up, and his by-play and “business” generally were worthy of his high reputation. Mr John Wallace gave to the part of Bambini all its recognised volatility, and had evidently made a careful study of all its peculiarities. Mr Edwin Kelly was Monthabor, and played the part so as to bring into prominence its many sidedness. He was the rollicking soldier, the loving husband, the doting father, and the enthusiastic drum-major, giving to each phase its full effect; while his assumption of gravity, when disguised as a monk, was ludicrous in the extreme without being vulgar. The grand entry of the French army was as realistic as on former occasions, but though the scene was very good it did not give the “ view of the Great Cathedral at Milan” which the bills promised, and which the audience expected to see. All the principals received the compliment of being called before the curtain at the close of the first and second acts, and the curtain had to he raised on the concluding spectacle in order that the last chorus might be repeated. The opera will he repeated to-night and to-morrow night.