THEATRE ROYAL.—ENGLISH COMIC OPERA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5494, 26 June 1879, Page 5

THEATRE ROYAL.—ENGLISH COMIC OPERA.

Xestzkday evening, Lecoeq's celebrated comic opera, " Girofle-Girofla" was produced, for the first time in this city, by Mr. Riccardi's company, at the Theatre Royal. The opera fully "sustained the reputation ■which it had" gained elsewhere, the text being sparkling with wit, and the music vivacious and elegant. We cannot say that its first production was faultless, the last act especially being marred by some of tbe performers not being sufficiently acquainted with the text. It is but fair to state, however, that the music and dialogue of the two first parts were such as to compensate for the fault we have referred to, and which could only have arisen through insufficiency of rehearsal. The principal feature of the first act was the duet. " H"W nice we'll be," between Miss Leaf and Mr. Harding. The Bong, " See how it sparkles," by Miss Leaf, w<l3 also exquisitely and expressively rendered Mr. Harding was in splendid voice, and his best effort was in a duet with Mr. Eiccardi in the second act. The voices blended with exquisite harmony, and the audience enthusiastically applauded them. On the whole, the audience had good reason to be pleased, for not only the chief parts, but the minor ones also, found good exponents, as will be seen from the following cast: —Doa Bolero D'Alcarazas, Mr. Hodson,; M.ira?qoin, Mr. C. Harding; Mourzouk, Mr. Biccardi; Chief Pirate, Mr. K. Love ; Fcrcand, Guyman, Phillip (cousins of Girofia) — Mr. Wilson, Mr. Burnam, Mr. Klingenfield ; Grandfather, Mr. Scott; Dancer, Mr. Mason ; Pedro, Miss Teague ; Parquita, Mis 3 Hunter; Aurora, Miss Heath ; Girofia, Girofle (twin daughters of Aurora Bolero), Miss Leaf. Mr. Hodeon exhibited much ability in the impersonation of his part. Miss Hunter was in good voice, and full of vivacity, and we may congratalate the management on the taste and excellence with which the dresses and scenery were arranged. Any fault which might have been perceptible last night will, no doubt, have disappeared before it is reproduced to-night.