THEATRE ROYAL.—ENGLISH COMIC OPERA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5495, 27 June 1879, Page 5

THEATRE ROYAL.—ENGLISH COMIC OPERA.

« "GIROFLB-GiROFLA." wa3 repeated at the Theatre Jast night by Mr. Riccardi's company, and to say that it was a great improvement on it 3 first production, is nothing more than simple justice, for the artistes, being more letter-perfect in their dialogues, more accustomed to sing the music together, and more practised in the stage effects, those hitches which served to mar the effect in the first performance had, in a great measure, disappeared. The orchestra also exhibited great improvement in consequence of the extra rehearsals, and last night's performance was a thoroughly enjoyable one. The only cause for regret was that owing to the combined effects of very inclement weather and the great attraction of the citizen's ball given to His Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Lady Robinson, the attendance was not so large as the merits of the performance warranted. The sparkling character of the music itself, and the lively dialogue, carried the audience into the spirit of the opera, and these, combined with the exquisite manner in which the solos, duets, quartettes, kc, were rendered, left little to be desired. Having already noticed at 30me length the merits of some of the chief performers, Messrs. Riccardi and Harding, and Misses Leaf and Hunter, we may appropriately advert to some whose parts were not so conspicuous. Miss Heath, is the shrewish wife and managing mother, iboroughly realiaed the character, and placed it before the audience. Mr. Hodson shone sore in his spirited and artistic delineation >f the part of Don Bolero, than in his einging. tn the former he displayed superior powers is a comedian. Mr. R. Love, as the chief of ;he pirates, made the most of the little he bad to do, and Miss Teague, as Parquita, iressed well, and sang fairly. Indeed, taken thrsughout, the dresaee of the artistes and choruses were elegant and in keeping, and ihe scenery was admirable. The whole display, as well as the entire performance, are iighly creditable to the company and the management. We trust that to-night the weather will be more auspicious, and the indience larger.