THEATRE ROYAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10652, 13 May 1895, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL.

■ MADAME FAYART. Mr Tom Pollard nad his clever company mint certainly bo congratulated upon tho ■bio manner in which Offenbach's charming work Madame Favart was produced oa Saturday evening. The piece has not been played hots for many years, and it ia questionable if it has ever been seen to greater advantage than it was on this occasion, and the audience testified its approval by hearty applause aud frequent encores. Madame Favart ia full of really good music, and does not depend, ea so many opera-bonffets do, upon catchy tunes for ingratiating itself into public favour ; the dialogue is decidedly " clover, and cot a point in it waa lost by the performer*, who entered into it in a wholesouled manner. Miss Emily Metcalfe certainly deserves great praise for both her acting and singing of the name part, and. she was equally successful in the halfdozen characters she is compelled to assume in order to conceal her identity. The manner in which she adapted herself to each change showed what a versatile actress this young lady is. Her song, “lam an Artless Thing,” was given with great piquancy, and fairly brought down the fadtiae, while her pedlar duet with her husband met with a treble encore, which it thoroughly deserved. Mica Cisiy Sandford’s Susanna waa presented in a, manner that would have done credit to an actress of much greater experience. Her coaxing song, “ You Won’t Say No,” was given with an archness that was quite refreshing, aud her , song, “I Faint, I Die,” was also well given. Miss Mitchall, who took the part of Hector da Boispreau, displayed great histrionic ability, while her vocalisation was a feature of the performance, her song at the Opening of the second act earning her a doable encore. Master W. Farcy, as Favart, the actor, and afterwards in disguises as the footman and tho chef, was very successful in his portrayal of these entirely distinct characters. Saturday night’s effort must bo looked upon as one of his best performances. Ho was warmly encored for the chef’s song and repeated it. Master Alf Stephens waa. extremely fanny sa tho Governor of Artois, making all his points successfully. Major Coatingnao was played by Master Noblo; and Mias Maud Beatty made a very good sergeant, investing the part with a safSoiently martial air. The other characters •were all in capable hands. The choruses 'were given crisply, and the piece was mounted in Mr Pollard’s best ntyle. This evening tho spectacular comic opera Tambour Major, by the same author, will be produced.