PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4484, 28 March 1876, Page 3

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

The "farewell" night of the Opera Bouffe ' Company drew a full house last evening; " Chilperic" was the operetta, and the per- ' formance was throughout the most sustained and effective the ' company had previously ' given. It is not necessary to recapitulate ■ the difficulties which they had to contend ' with, but it is due to them to say they met ' them with a spirit that deserved success. : The company has acquired considerable strength in the accession of Miss Jennie ' Nye, and Mr. Cary, who appeared for the "] first time last night as Divitiacus. His ' singing was better than his acting. The choruses were greatly improved. The per- £ formance, from beginning to end, was | exceedingly pleasant, and the audience, \ by their repeated plaudits, testified that * it was thoroughly satisfactory. Miss I Lydia Howarde, as Chilperic, sang the several songs allotted to that part with great effect, of which " Sprite of the Grove," r "JFrediffonda Fairest," "The Butterfly i Miss Navaro was graceful as ] usual. In the songs, " Tell me that you . Love me," and iu several of the concerted x parts her voice told greatly to the advantage x of the piece. The quarrel scene between 5 Chilperie (Miss Howarde), and Fredigonda J (Miss Jennie Nye), was, of its kind, a first ; class specimen of rapid vocalization, and was loudly encored, as it deserved to be. Mr. J Harry Power, as a serio-comic actor, is im- : mensely clever, and provided an inexhaustible fund of tragi-burlesque humour, which kept the house in a state of explosive merri- ■ ment. These performances never pretended to being what is in theatrical parlance called ' " great," but they have been precisely what ' we have described them—very pleasant. Miss Jennie Nye proceeds with the troupe, ■ and will be missed from the Auckland stage. She was a great favourite, and ' her merits have always been in advance ' ot r her reputation. The performance • concluded with "La Chatte Blanche." This burlesque opera is also lively and ] amusing, but being a "masque," masks are ' an essential feature of the performance. : These, with the exception of an admirable . one possessed by Mr. Power, were not very ; good! At the same time, the mnsic is lively and attractive. The only thing that can be . said at the close of this season is, that what- . ever its success, that success was thoroughly ; deserved by the great energy and persever- ; ance displayed by Miss Howarde and her company. - '