THE ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 89, 9 January 1875, Page 8

THE ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY.

We are pleased to see that the management have carried out the suggestion made by the Press, and withdrawn "Cinderella" for the substitution of such pieces as "The Grand Duchess" and Genevieve de Brabant." The attendance at the Princess Theatre on the last two nights of the week was a marked contrast to that during the presentation of "Blue Beard" or " Cinderella" and must have been a convmcmg proof to the treasury of the wisdom of the change. During the short time which has elapsed since their return the company have appeared in four operas ; and although those presented have been the work of the same composer, the fact is to be SfSSfcS? r 7 f DatUre 5- S5 0 P f CeS Chosen - The compositions of Offenbach consist so materially of sparkling wit, humorous byeplay, and mirth-provokmg situations as to partate considerably of the burlesque a reason, no doubt, which influenced the management in then- production at this particular season. It were almost impossible to do justice to Miss Alice May for her representation of the Grand Duchess of Gerolstem Indeed, in that, as in ail other of Miss May's delineations, she so thoroughly identifies herself with the character she sustains, as to make it a matter of impossibility to criticize her otherwise than favorably. In such characters as the Grand Duchess, and as Drogan m "Genevieve de Brabant" she appears so thoroughly to cn 3 oy the eccentricities which she portrays, that she seems brimful of tun and humor, a charm which carries considerable sway with an audience; while it is needless to say that her rendering of the music allotted to her is always as artistic as it is accurate. " Genevieve de Urabant was put upon the stage in a style which reflects great credit on the management, and in the scene where the Duke departs for Palestine the representation of the engine was so perfect as to secure for Mr Huntley, under whose superintendence the machinery is placed, a call before the curtain. As the secession of Mr Eainf ord has caused some difference in the arrangements of the company, a re- casting of the characters was necessary. The Duke de Brabant, as on their termer visit was represented by Mr Hallam, and he must be congiatiuated on the very marked improvement which has taken place since he appeared in the character before. As the gens d'armes were personated by Messrs. Kainford and Ternon on previous occasions? the vacancy caused by the absence of the former was filled by Mr Templeton, his original character of Charles Martel being given to lU ?' can scarcely say that Mr Templeton as Sergeant Grab was equal to Mr Eamford in the same character ; but the difference was not nearly so marked as that between Mr Templeton as Charles Martel and Mr Lester's rendering. On Monday P evening Miss May was suffering from the effects of a severe cold, but on thf following night she was so ill as to be compelled to claim the indulgence of the audience by speaking the part allotted to Drogan. Nevertheless, she bravely struggled through to the end rather than disappoint those present, and the manner in which she was greeted throughout the evening was a convincing proof of the position she holds in public favor, and a marked expression of sympathy for her under her afflic-