THE LYDIA HOWARDE TROUPE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 185, 23 November 1876, Page 2

THE LYDIA HOWARDE TROUPE.

Last niglit being the opening of this Troupe at the Masonic Hall there was a large and particularly select audience, the front seats being the best patronised portion of the house. So highly have the company been spoken of wherever they have appeared, that considerable interest was evinced to witness their performance, and befora the curtain rose most of the seats were reserved. - The piece selected for the first appearance was a burlesque musical extravaganza by Herv£, entitled " Chilperic, the King of tho Gauls," in five scenes. The libretto is gay and sparkling, glistening with puns, the dialogue crisp and racy, and the music abunding with plaintive solos and lively choruses, while the situations are exceedingly comical, grotesque, and mirth-inspiring. The characters introduced are of so wide a range as to admit of the greatest amount of variety, and while Chilperic and his love (Fredegonda) dazzle the eye with the richness of their costumes, the eccentric " dressing" of Dr. Senna and JFatout, the chamberlain, tickle the fancy, and excite the risible faculties. Of course the principal character (Chilperic) is sustained by Miss Lydia Howarde, who is the prima donna of the Company, and it is but scant justice to say she fully sustained the reputation which she has won elsewhere. Possessed of a clear and ringing voice, with great compass and rang 3, a pleasing face, and a splendid figure, added to a graceful abandon, never degenerating into boldness or vulgarity, she is admirably adapted for bouffe opera. Whether in the sadly plaintive rnulody of " One Gentle Heart," or in the comic solo, " Come, no Reviling," she seems equally at home. Mdlle. Navaro proved herself to be not only a charming vocalist, but an accomplished actress, and from the pathetic manner in which she enacted the part of the love-lorn and deserted Landry, one would little expect the versatility displayed :is Robin, in the "Waterman." Indeed, it were difficult to imagine two characters more widely different than Landry and Robin, and the greatest praise which can be given to Mdlle. Navaro is to say that she scored successes in each. As Brunehaut, Miss Lucy Ashton had very little scope for display ; and the same may be said of Mx\ Herbert, as Siegberg. It was a matter for regret that Mr. Carey was not more prominently in the programme, but as his part was given in its entirity, the author is alone to blame. However, as it was, some liberty was taken with the libretto, and a parody on the " Friar of Orders Grey " wa3 introduced, an innovation, far from being found fault with by the audience. The make-up and bye-play of Messrs. Harry Power and Stoneham, as Fatout and Dr. Senna respectively, were simply immense, and the scene in which the Chamberlain declares

his love for Fredegonda, was inimitable* The author has introduced into the closing act a capital burlesque upon the mad scene in " Hamlet," Shakespeare, however, being slightly altered t:> give greater scope for eccentricity. Fredegonda has become insane, and like a leal lover, Fatout takes his share of the malady, and while the maiden strews the supposed grave of her lost love with cabbage leaves, the Chamberlain follows suit with sausages and dry-hash. As Fredegonda, the peasant girl, and afterwards mistress of Chilperic, Miss Jennie Nye had a most arduous part to sustain, and received considerable applause, both for her rendering of "The Star of Love," and her genuine acting in the mad scene.

The performance concluded with Dibden's musicalbureletta "The Waterman,' Misa Howarde in the role of Tom Tug. Whilenot by any means of so pretentious a character as" Chilperic," the piece admits of thedisplayof considerable comic powers, and it must be confessed that Mr. Herbert and Miss Ashton as Mr. and Mrs. Bundle claimed the lion's share of the applause for their life-like personations of the " loving" couple. Taken as a whole, the entertainment was a most enjoyable one, and the frequency of the genuine applause which was bestowed during the evening proved that those present were not disappointed in their expectations of the troupe, and heartily endorsed the verdict which has been pronounced wherever the company have played. This evening we notice the spectacular extravaganza of " Kenil worth ; or, ye Queene, ye Earle, and ye Mayclene" is to be produced, concluding with the petite comedy of "The Kiss in the Dark," with another change to-morrow night.