THE OPERA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4140, 27 June 1874, Page 3

THE OPERA.

CEN'DEEELLA. PKESEXTATKMJ TO MISS MAT. Last night " Cinderella" was repeated. It was a command night, numerous visitors from the country were present, and probably the management mil reckon "the house" as being one of the largest of the season. It was pleasant that it wa3 so, and that on the last night but one of the appearance of the company in Wellington they should have been so well supported. Lady Fergusson was present from the commencement of the opera to the last. It was soon evident, after the curtain rose, that the rehearsal of the previous evening had been of great service. Mons. Heury was again able to take his place in the orchestra, which wa3 strengthened by an additional cornet, and the whole of the music was played with the greatest care. Miss May was, as usual, in excellent voice ; and was well supported by Mr. Hallam. They sang the duet " Whence this soft and pleasing flame" charmingly, and were rewarded with most liberal applause. Mr. Kainford was also in rare humor, and throughout played and sang admirably. We may mention, perhaps, his " Hi, hi, a pretty Venus, I must say ;" and the duet with Danflini (Mr. Templeton) "Sir, a most important secret," which was most amusingly and cleverly rendered by both the gentlemen named. Dandini's " All my grandeur's but a joke" was highly creditable to Mr. Templeton. Pedro was again a source of merriment, the part being played, as before, with genuine humor by Mr. Vernon, to whom has to be scored one of the successes of the evening'. Mis 3 Lambert and Miss Howe were also in good voice and spirits, and, a 3 the sisters, Clarinda and Thisbe, contributed much to the success of the evening. The chorus were in good order—the male voices a little too strong, perhaps, on occasions, but we may say that they have sustained their reputation excellently throughout the season ; while the scenery all through has been worthy of the reputation of Mr. Willis. After the fall of the curtain at the end of the second act an interesting exjisode occurred. The curtain rose, and discovered on the stage a number of gentlemen of Wellington, whose intention, it was understood, was to present to Miss May a souvenir of her visit to the Empire City. Mr. Allen having led Miss May on, Dr. Diver addressed the fair recipient of the gift in a few appropriate remarks. He said : —"Miss Alice May, —I have been selected by a few of your friends and admirers to present you with a small token of their respect and esteem, and to thank you for your untiring efforts to entertain and amuse them, while I confess to you their feeling that you are the finest prima donna who has ever visited Wellington." (Applause). Dr. Diver then handed to Miss May a case containing a magnificent set of jewellery—a brooch and earrings of diamonds, which were purchased from Mr. Shaw, jeweller, Lambton Quay ; stated privately to be valued at over £2OO ; and which had only been in Wellington a few hours, having been imported by the s.s. Otago, which arrived in the morning. Miss May advanced to the footlights, and exhibiting the glittering present, said—" Dr. Diver, ladies and gentlemen—Permit me to offer you my deepest and most grateful thanks for the very handsome presentation now made to mo; and at the same time to thank you for the warm and enthusiastic manner in which you have welcomed me and supported mo in your charming city. I trust ere long to again appear before you for a short and farewell visit ; but wherever I may be, under any circumstances, the memory of your kindness will live in my heart." (Applause.) The curtain then again descended, and so passed a scene not a little interesting in itself, and creditable to the musical tasto and liberality of the City. To-night, the last of the present season, THE DATOHTEE OP THE REGIMENT will be performed, followed by a most amusing comic operetta, THE ROSE OF ATJVEItGNE, which, we believe, has not before been played in this City. The company embark on board the Taranaki, at the close of tho performance, for Nelson, where they will play for six nights, then proceeding on to Auckland.