Theatre Royal.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5257, 13 May 1895, Page 2

Theatre Royal.

MADAME FAVART.

- Mr Tom Pollard and his clever company must certainly be congratulated upon the able manner in which Offenbach's charming work Madame Favart was produced On Saturday evening. The piece has notbeen played here for many years, and it is questionable if it has ever been seen to greater advantage than it was on this occasion, and the audience testified its approval by hearty applause and frequent encores. Madame Favart is full of really good music, and does not depend, as so many opera-bouffes do, upon catchy tunes for ingratiating itself into public favour ; the dialogue is decidedly clever, and not a point in it was lost by the performers, who entered into it in a wholesouled manner. Miss Emily Metcalfe certainly deserves great praise for both her acting and singing of the name part, and she/was equally successful in the halfdozen characters she is compelled to assume in order to conceal her identity • The manner in which she adapted herself to each change showed what a versatile actress this young lady is. Her song, "l am an Artless Thing," was given with great piquancy, and fairly brought down the house, while her pedlar duet with M : B 3 Mitchell met with a treble encore, which it thoroughly deserved. Miss Cisßy Sandford's Susanna was presented in a manner that would have done credit to an actress of much greater experience. Her coaxing song, " You Won*t-Say No," was given with an archness that was quite refreshing, . and her song, "I Faint, I Die," was also well given. Miss Mitchell, who took the part of • Hector de Boiapreau, displayed great histrionic ability, while her vocalisation was a feature of the performance, her song at the opening of the second act earning her a double encore. Master W. Percy, as Favart, the actor, and afterwards in disguises as the footman and the chef, was very successful in his portrayal of these entirely distinct characters. Saturday night's effort must be looked upon as one of his best performances. He was warmly encored for the chef's song and repeated it. Master Alf Stephens was extremely funny as the Governor of Artois, making all his points successfully. Major Contingnac was played by Master Noble j and Mies Maud Beafcty made a very good sergeant, investing the part with a sufficiently martial air. The other characters were all in capable hands. The choruseß were given cvisply, and the piece was mounted in Mr Pollard's best style. This evening the spectacular comic opera Tambour Major, by the same author, will be produced.