POLLARD'S OPERA COMPACT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 57

POLLARD'S OPERA COMPACT.

"LA PERICHOLE."

The extremely wintry weather of last evening did not prevent the presence of a large audience in. the Princess Theatre, when Offenbach's comic opera- "La Perichole " (" The Street Singer ") was staged here by the Pollard Company for the first time, though the company have lately been playing it in the northern towns with success. "La Perichole " has been previously produced in Dunedin, but so long ago (about 19 years) that it will be practically forgotten. No mistake, however, has been made in the revival of this delightful piece, which provides an agreeable diversity from the musical comedy and opera bonffe comprising the larger part of the company's repertoire. '• La Perichole " belongs to the older French school of comic operas, which rely for much of their effect on the delicate mingling of pathos and humour, and, as masterpieces of light and shade, in this respect Offenbach's operas have not been surpassed, and of them "La Perichole " is one of the beat examples. From a musical standpoint in the first place, it is on a different plane to the majority °f Pollard's other productions, and on a, higher plane. Its music is less aggressive, but moro subtle, more difficult, ajid more tunefully melodious. Dramatically considered, the advantage of a comparison is all with "La Perichole. ' There i« a plot that dominates it, and in its continuity lasts to the cad, and can be easily followed. The story oi the opera is briefly as follows:— La Perichole and Piquillo are street singers, and lovers as well, but are too poor to marry. This requires fonr dollars, which they cannot afford; in fact, Ihey are in dire stress lor food itself. While Piqiiilio has left the girl for a time to go in searofi of food, the Viceroy oi Lima meets her and tempts her to become a Maid of Honour at his court, and incidentally his mistress. Desperate at the non-return of her lover, and for sheer want of iood, Perichole half consents, but defers final answer till she has had dinner. She also obtains a sum of money fiom the amorous Viceroy, and sends Piqnillo a letter to the effect that she will be trne to him, and £iicl means to preserve her honour and eficape. She also leaves the money for him. The Viceroy in the meantime is reminded that tio Maid of Honour can be intorduced into the palace' unless married. A convenient figurehead husband has to be secured. The irony of fate fixes on Piqnillo as the eligible person. -H« has misread Perichole's letter, and, after attempting to hang him^el-f, h«s drowned his sorrows in drink. He does not know what he is doing, and, quite nnaTrares, ifi duly married to La Perichole, who herself is fally a-war« of the aac&aa thus cfieted hex. The nexb ar.fc fixxdi

Piquillo at court, and much perplexed at hi* new title and the state of affairs in general,/ and regarded with open contempt by the courtiers as a " man complaisant." Ha ultimately finds out the state of affairs, and, disregarding Perichole's appeals and explanations, when the time comes -when by custom! he has to present his -wife to the Viceroy befora he makes an exit, he throws her furiously off* . axrd insults the Viceroy, while Perichole, maddened by his distrust of her and her tactics, increases his misery by taking her place -with, the Viceroy and mocking "him. The next acfc finds Piquillo in prison for his <:on.duct, and! there Petichole visits him, and a reconciliation, is effected. Perichole offers the gaoler her diamonds, received from the Viceroy, if he will permit them to escape, and to their horror th« gaoler reveals himself as the Viceroy in dis* „ guise. He is not pleased at this state of thingSi and chains each to a separate jpillar, promising that he wrill return if Perichole sings a certain, song to show that' she has changed her mind, and will not repulse him. She does thiSj an 3" • the Viceroy enters. In the meantime another prisoner — an old gentleman, also inhabiting tha dungeon for *' recalcitrant husbands," and who for 12 long years has been boring his -way out •with a small pocket-knife, and expects to ba free in another 12 years, enters, and liberates Perichole *nd Piquillo with this useful inßtrn* ment. When the Viceroy comes in he is set upon and overpowered, and the prisoners- all escape. The Viceroy pursues them with hia vengeance, -but in the lost act the lovers arq seen united, and tho Viceroy manganimously forgives them and gives them his blessing* The taxing port of Perichole was taken by Misa Nina Osborne, and with a large amount oi success. Though her voice is not strong, she acquitted herself sufficiently well in her difficult solos, and showed a thorough knowledge of the role and of the music. Her acting was . also praiseworthy. Her "Letter sotig" was quite the best of her items, and was given with admirable feeling and conception. It is a really exquisite number. In "La Perichole'* 1 Mr Carter has some 'rare opportunities, and' he has probably never been »een to better «drantftge than in this opera: Ho could hardly have .suag the part better, and his acting was exceedingly natural «md of a high order. His rendering of the solo " Behold this woman "• was finely -dramatic and impressive, w'3ul« another solo, " They wanted me to be * villain/ was just as praiseworthy and'successful. . As the Viceroy, Mr O'Connor is to ba complimented on a Juunorons but dignified performance without inconsistent lapses, and sang . with his usual .success. His rendering of the! "Picador's song" was vigorous and moat acceptable. Mr All. 'Stevens had the comical part of the " twelve-long-yeais " prisoner, and,, , ■with his ludicrous get-up and rusty Toice/wasj responsible for much amusement. The remaining parts -were not of much importance. Md J. Ralstoh took the psrt of Don Pedro,_Governor of Lima, "Mr Quealy that ef the Lorif Chamberlain, and 'MV Vanghan that of th« First Lord in Waiting," while the other char-i acters were -all adequately personated. Th« staging and dressing ol the opera ire good* especially ■ praiseworthy being the dungeon! scene in the third act. A most effective spec- ■ tecle was the Amazon March towards the end! of the piece. The effect >of the varied limelight oolours on the silver armour of th« Amazons was very striking, and the march, in/ itself a very pretty one, which was loudly, vgrj, plauded. The movements were done with tha^ utmost precision and grace. There is nothmgf' in a degree dull about "La Perichole, ' and* with its admirable Betting and tuneful music,; it is well worth seeing. The opera will b» repeated this evening and to-morrow evening.