"OLIVETTE."

Otago Witness, Issue 2205, 4 June 1896, Page 39

" OLIVETTE."

There is no appreciable diminution in the size of the audience which gathers nightly in the Princess Theatre to wituess the productions of Pollard Opera Company, and the success which has attended the season is admitted on all sides to be quite phenomenal. On Monday night, on the occasion of the performance of Audran's charming opera " Olivette," the capacity of the theatre was tested to ite utmost limits. As on every night the company appeared, the seating accommodation proved quite inadequate, and many both in the upper and lower portions of the house were compelled to be satisfied with standing room simply. "Olivette" was produced by the company oh the occasion of their last visit, some 17 months ago*. .The work belongs to a style that makes it suitable to the capacities of the young performers, who' sustained their respective parts in a manner that would do credit to persons who have i had the advantage of much longer experience. Miss Mitchell, in the title rdle, has, perhaps, not been seen to greater advantage. She acted throughout the evening with spirit and graceful vivacity, while her solos were all prettily rendered. The .numbers "0 my father" and "The' matron of an hour" were sung by her with taste and expression, while she took < the solo part in the chorus "The torpedo and the whale" with ' exquisite naivete and t>iquancy. This chorus- was quite a feature of the whole performance, and elicited an emphatic encore. Miss Maud Beatty likewise excelled herself, and personated the character of Valentine with a grace and spoutauiety that quite wem'the hearts of tbe audience, her rendering of the serenade " Darliug, good nieht," bein^ highly effective. Miss Metcalfe made a pleasing Duchess, while Miss May Boatty made the most of her opportunities as the maid to Olivette. The male characters were hardly represented with unqualified success, nevertheless the efforts of the young gentlemen contributed in no small degree to the general excellence of the performance. The part of the gallant captain, who so frequently consoled himself with the reflection that he was a "sad sea dog," hardly suited Master Alf. Stephens. The hoarse bass voice might well justify one in concluding he was a veritable basso prof undo, but the idea would speedily be dispelled when he commenced his songs. Master Quealy's conception -^of the Due de 3 Ifs was altogether too extravagant, but Master Percy as the Duke and Master Mabel as tbe Seneschal both deserve a word of praise. The scenery and stage appointments, as usual, were on a satisfactory scale. "Les Cloches de Corneville" was to be produced on Tuesday night, and the season was to be concluded on Wednesday with " La Mascotte."