THEATRE ROYAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3608, 3 November 1879, Page 4

THEATRE ROYAL.

THB BOHEMIAN (ME t.

At the Theatre Royal on fnirtarday was; produced Balfe's well known op- va, in three; acts, "The Bohemian <3iill. M Tie orchestra'and the principal vocalists of bhe English' Opera Company did full jiiri.ee to their respective portions of . the opera, but the chorus made it too plainly evident that 'they lad- not had a sufficient number of rehearsals to give them even a moderate knowledge of what they had to do or sing ; with one exception, viz., "The Gipsies' Chorus," of trhioh they gave a tolerably good neadering. '^the' overture "was given ■absolutely without curtailment, and showed how well the scoring had been done by Professor Hughes. It was rendered very nicely, but the Saturday night patrons of tbe pit thought it too long and would scarcely listen to the latter part of it. Mrs C. Florence appeared as Arlins. She narrowly escaped being encored for her excellent Binging of " The Dream." Mr 0. Korence was Thaddeus. In the duet "The Secret of Her Birth," he shared the honours with Mrs Florence, and was encored for his ■plendid execution of " When Other Lips "- and "The Fair Land of Poland." Mr Browning played Count .Arnhcim, the music belonging to which . character is exactly suited to hia voice;. His singing of "The Heart Bowed Down " and the recitative preceding the air, won for him an enthusiastio encore. Devilshoof was taken by Mr F. H. Edmonds with moderate success. Florestein introduced to Ohrißtchurch a new vocalist in the person of Mr H. Crowther, who possesses a nice tenor .: Toiceyand apparently an adequate acquaint* ance with music. He did full justice to the -small part entrusted to him, and probably is capable of undertaking more, arduous rSles. Madame Sheridan played the Gipsy Queen, but showed that she was heavily over-

■weighted in the part. An unusual compliment was paid to two members - of the orchestra. 3he clarionet player was encored ia the introduction to " The Heart Bowed Down," and Mr Coombes was specially applauded for his violin playing in tbe opening to the third act. The mounting of the opera was far from splendid, but was probably as good as can fairly be expected when the prices'of admission are considered. Opera, when "completely" put upon the stage, is a. very expensive luxury, and the manngement whioh renturpa to cater it for the sele* fc few who are likely »o patronise it, will certainly lose

serious] r unless the prices are made in some

degree to assimilate to the pri 93 charged at Home. Even then the balanrf of profit would not be overwhelmingly large. Whilst the public can, at the ordinary prices, hoar opera orchestral music 'admirably played, and the Teading melodies sung with fully average excellence at the Theatre Royal, they have no reason to complain. " The Bohemian Girl " is to be repeated to night, and to-morrow there will be a " great bill " for the benefit of Mrs 0. Florence and Miss Jenny Thorn.