Amusements.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1757, 20 August 1874, Page 2

Amusements.

THE OPERA,

For any form of public entertainment to draw good houses in a place like the Thames under such, unfavorable circumstances as bad weather and muddy roads, augurs well for the merits of such entertainment. It requires a certain amount of nerve for ladies living on the hills outside tho. Borough to face the rain, ami the mud, night after night, even to hear an opera, but the ladies appear to be equal to the occasion, as evidenced by the attendance at. the Academy of Music nightly. The Soyal English Ope^a Company have played now for four nights, and on every night but one it has rained between seven and eight o'clock, just the hour during which patrons of the opera require to be-in the streets in order to be in time for the overture. The attendance therefore attests the fact that the opera company have made a most favorable impression. We are not surprised at this: had it been otherwise we should have been surprised. "The opera" is one of those institutions peculiar to large centres of population; it is only now and then that communities such as the Thames enjoy the production of opera. It is there-! fore creditable to the taste of the Thames people that they bestow a liberal patronage on such amusements when placed within their reach.. "The Grand Duchess; of Gerblstein" was played last night.; There was no diminution in the attendance, but rather an improvement, the house being pretty well filled, although not crowded. This opera has be»n ren- 1 dered immensely popular at home. Companies have been organised to " do " the ; Provinces, and have succeeded in making the piece widely known. The music is! exceedingly, good, and the plot is weir worked out. Miss Alice May's Grand! Duchess must be classed amongst her; best interpretations. Though essentially! comic, approaching to the burlesque,^ more than ordinary powers are required to sustain the piece effectively. The character of the Grand Duchess is; that of an impulsive woman, of strong passions, brooking no interference. Be-j coming enamoured of a private soldier,! she raises him to the highest rank in the army and confers upon him a patent of nobility, and after doing this she wooes; him for a lady of the Court. But IVitzi the private soldier had lost hit heart to a peasant girl Wanda; and as Generalissimo of the army remains true to his early love,: spite of the temptation to sacrifice his: inclination to his interests. The Duchess then gets piqued, and consents to the; disgrace of her favorite, which is accom-i plished even more rapidly th»n was his j advancement; and the Duchess bestows her band upon a coxcomb, one Prince Paul, i who has exercised the' virtue of patience ■{ to the utmost limit—the private: soldier: JPntz being rewarded with the post of village schoolmaster. The characters in the opera are; numerous; and „all occupy "< considerable importance in the working:.; out of the plot. The music is of the most cheerful kind. The song of the piece is undoubtedly that commencing '•" Lo here the sabre of my sire," into which Miss May infused characteristic powers. The wooing scene was also well sustained, and the singing rendered most expressively. , The character of Fritz was assumed by Mr. Howard Vernqny and ably sustained—a good voice, figure and sterling abilities as an actor .being; the characteristics which this gentleman displayed; Mr. Eainford as General Boom wa» most effectively ludicrous. Some slight liberties were taken with th« textj but they were condoned by the applause -with, which they were greeted. Mr. Templeton rendered the character of Prince Paul as a lisping swell, blindly in love, and the representation was. very correctly sustained. As Baron Puck and Baron Grog, Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Evans fairly sunk thair identity for the time being in the characters they had assumed. Miss E. A. Lambert made a most piquant, charming Wanda, and Mr. C. Lester both dressed and acted the part of the Aide-de-camp to perfection, The opera is a lengthy one, and it could not fail to: ; be noticed that occcasionaiiy the characters were deficient in the text of their parts, but this may be excused considering that they are appearing in new pieces each evening. The overture was well rendered, and the dresses were most appropriate to the , piece. . Several bouquets were showered upon Mis 3 May for her singing and acting, which were also received with other marks of approval; tho audience and the company appeared thoroughly to enter into the spirit of the piece, enjoying it immensely, " The Daughter of the Regiment " is announced for, this evening, and it requires no word of recommendation, being familiar to most play-goers. We are pleased to learn (and are authorised in stating it) that the company will give two extra performances at the Theatre Eoyal — Friday and Saturday nights, when " Satanella "and " Der Frischutz " will be produced with all their accompanying scenic and spectacular effects.. .-