Theatre Royal.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7288, 16 August 1893, Page 2

Theatre Royal.

“MADAME PAVART" The first performance of Offenbach’s charming opera “ Madame Pavart," was pro duced at the Theatre Royal last night (o an unanimously enthusiastic audience. Mr Sidney Wolf conducted, and to his energy and talent in drilling, the success is largely due; he proved to have his orchestra and company well in hand from beginning to end of a very brilliant performance The music of the opera is perhaps not very well known, and certainly has never been heard here before of the French school, light, sparkling, and bright, and the characters entrusted with the leading parte filled them to admiration. The lady who represented ‘ Madame Pavart " was as sparkling and bright as th*> music which she sang. Her acting was natural and easy, and her dresses very becoming. One was a striped pale pink ball-costume, with watt<au lace, and another an equally piquaote a libretto's costume of pale blue, was particularly choice. " Suzanne " was also well played, and the bridal attire donned in the sec md act was greatly admired. “ Charles Pavart,” a struggling author, involv-d in money troubles, was happily expounded by Mr H. Jones, his sieging, acting, playing, being quite beyond amateurish. The charming trio in the first act, in which “ Charles Pavart," “Suzanne," and her lover “Hector," take part, met a very hearty encore. In the second act, the military Governor, “ Marquis d 9 ?outsahlc," an amprous, impressionable

despot, was the source of a series of most comical situations, beyond hope of explanation—to be seen to be thoroughly enjoyed. A very graceful minuet (directed by Miss Lovegrove) and an excellent bit of drilling of a smart little corps of vivandieres (directed by Sergeant-Major Jones) were not the least attractive items of the opera. The staging and dressing were beyond praise; though wo could have wished the limelight, with its rathe? trying hissing accompaniment, were not quite so erratic in its manipulation. Taken throughout, the opera is more than an average performance, the chorus and orchestra being particularly well balanced, encores freely demanded and readily accorded, and the audience in touch with the actors, and eager to testify their enthusiasm.