THEATRE ROYAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume 2990, Issue XL, 24 April 1884, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

" MaKOIjA." Tb« advent of the Locdon Oonr.o Opera Company bad been bo well heralded, ami so many allusions made to thuir jnccesaen m the lending cities m tho colonies, that it woold hare been surprising if IheTheitre Royal had not been crowded on tbi occasion of their flnt appearance here. ifothin« to earpriiing occurred, the Theatre being filled fr^ra top to bottom. The auditorium must hare presented a very pleasing appearance from the stage, as well a» a eatisfactory one from a manager's point of y.ex. Mr Dunniog and his able secretary deserve the thanks of the people of Tiraaru for introducing to their notice this latest work of the composer of " Msd»me Angot" and " Girofle and Qirofla," — ouoras at well-known ia the colonies, probably, an m Europe. Time has cot impaired the powem of the gifted Frenchman ; advancing years ta7B rather improved them, by adding a riper experience to bis natural gifts. The orchestration is that of a practised writer, but it siraß|{ly oharaot«nied bj Xiecocq's peoali>r style, and a number ol graceful airs such as " like frightened dove,' 11 The now moon," " IJo, that coil of gold,' the two part nang " The two birds " wouli become favoritiei if obtainable, while the comii " Hong of the onion " will, we venture to say be heard at many a fostWo gathering, — with out the bulb m illustration. The oboruse are well and fully written, that) nccorapsnyini the drinking song m the third Act (th air of which is by another Mtn))Oßer being the most pletwiog one m the opera The dialogue is lively and abounds with pum some of whioh are capital and provokei irresistible Hughter. Ilefofe noticing iodi vidual performen, w« will observe tb»t th orcheitra, a otrong nn-5, under the baton Q Mr Juncker, is one of thajbest, if not the vor best, we hive ever listened to m Ximari

Their pliuiig wai very smooth, their overtotes ard interludes a pleasure to listen to. and tbair more important function £.8 complements to the voices ng admirably performed. Tho oborueei, too, wero well up to their work. Of the individual performers Mis? Iviraova, tha prima donni. of tho company, elaimu our first attention, [a common jiutio'j we can only speak of this lady m terms of the highest praise. Possessing n pleasing and graceful figure, she looks well on the Btago, and ehhas also a beautifully cultivated voice of great, power and compass, but at the same tiniu thoroughly under control, and last cve 1 ing the gifted ct.ntatriee attacked high notes with a precision and confidence that one hardly lo>ks far m opera coraiquo artirtns. Mi's Ivioovt. suf.'ers uothiug m comparison with thoee who havo from lime to ti-no fftcn bright particular stars m opera osimiquo. The comic element of the opera is principally m the hands of Mr T. B. Appleby, who enacts the congenial rd'e of Don Oalabazas, a gentleman whose unfortunate attachment for the fair i<ex, and hiß "diabolical winning ways," procuce much amusement and cou-fu-ion. ll in make-up is something to be remi mbered, and from his first entrance his appearances wero invariably associated with roars o: laughter. The manner m which he inflicts Ms poetry upon his several nuccoesive ladv-lotes evoked shouts of laughter. Unlike a great man;; comudianp, he poa'essM a capital voice, sad his opening song, " Wotaan," and his " Onion song " m the second aot werr greitly applauded. Miss Le.it, au old Now Zealand favorite, as Beatrix, played capitally, and for her rendering of the duet "Two Little Bird, 1 ' (one of tho bent things m the oper») with the prima donna, watt awarded an imperative encore. Mr Gr. Dean, fha stage manogi-r of the Company, played Don Brasicro, a ')*rt m which Urn ac3or has to be amusini; while being dignified, or, at any rate, avoidiig all approaoi to rudouess, oro of tho io light oharaoter sketches, insepaniblo from good oainic opera. Mr Doan fulfilled oil the requirements of the part, hi» acting beinf: all that could be desired. Mr F. Wentworth's Pablo, a val-t, wnf a re.lly excellent pieco of low comedy acting. Re showed m erery joene a full intelligence of tho comic possibilities of the occasion, nnd fairly divided the comic honcrs of the oroinj; nith Mr Appleby. Uiss Kelly, one of the loading membeis or the Company, had a mi.ior part m S»nchit,9, a. hoates?, but. her acting and sin>in» lent great osfi tance m tlie third Art. Mr Paje, as <\ brasi-bound aidede c.imp, was very amueing from his absurd eir.ggeration of militarY stiffness. M.or.s. .Loroian, bb Miguel, ought to havo been mentioned sooner, his part being itn important one, and excellently ployed throughout. His macner is light and vivacion«, of the French school, and supplies a good n odel fir young iu>prants tJ follow. Uit tenor voice was heurJ to advuntige m several duets His moot successful effort was probably thp drinking Boug, but w--> thought, his stooping gesture beforo thy words "And let. it bead," rathtr spoiled it. This song and chorus wero well received and an encore demand. ;d. Tho opera 'raa put on the etage m first-elms style, the iresass were magnificent, und the varied grouping of the choruses forme ' very pretty ;abloaux. Tho opera wound up with a |irand Billet of Nation?, m vhich a dozen diEerent nations were symbolized by brilliant emblematic drrssr* nnd flags. Each representative i»> loudly npplaacied on making horappenrancc, thelrish, Scotch and Au^tvalian receiving tlm warmest reception. A Vanket'l breakdown, a hornpipe, a jig, and n Higl-.Ur.d fling were the chief dances all of them b.-ing eX'-e'lently dono and lou iiy applauded. The nudieuco seemed well pleated tbrjughout. At the conclusion of tho second act tho principal performers were ca led before tho curtain, and tho interest wai so unlWging tint tha time passed insensibly, anc people w»re surprised to find it twenty minutes p<iet eleven when the cnr.'ain fall. Aa "Uanoli" will be playelfor the la3t time to night, everyone Bhouid embrsco theopportucity of seeing it. Tomorrow eveningj" Boccicccio" will be played, m which Mr KDight Acton, a celebrated tenor, MUs Alic.i Stanloy anc Mis> Mury O'Neill will make their ilrat appearance. If " BJccioaio " deaerveu c,n!y half the encomium? that have been bestowed upon it, another treat Uin store for the public of Timara.