THE ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 90, 16 January 1875, Page 8

THE ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY.

Thkotjgh the continued illness of Miss Alice May, which rendered her unable to appear in public for some time, the opera season came to a premature close — at least for a time — on Saturday night. Before, however, taking such a step no effort was spared by the management to compensate for tlie enforced absence of the prhna donna, and a succession of light and sparkling operettas, admirably suited to the company, were submitted for the public delectation. The response, however, to the efforts of the stage manager were not of such a nature as to induce him to continue the season until such time as the health of Miss May would admit of her re-appear-ance. On Thursday week Miss Lambert appeared in the role of the Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, and we confess we were most agreeably surprised at the clever manner in which the character was sustained. Of course, as an actress and vocalist, there is no comparison to be drawn between that lady and Miss May, Miss Lambert lacking that graceful vivacity which forms such an attractive feature in all Miss May's delineations, and in addition to this she was placed at a disadvantage in assuming a character in which Miss May had gained such, deserved laurels ; but, standing by itself alone, it was an excellent piece of acting, and to those who had not seen the latter in the same character it could not fail to have been otherwise than pleasing. Fritz and Wanda were represented by Mr Vernon and Miss Howe, and we are bound to confess that neither character suffered by the change of cast from its presentation on a former visit, there being ample scope for the comic abilities of Mr Vernon as Fritz, an opening of which it is just to say he availed himself to the titaipst. As Wanda, Miss Howe appeared to more advantage than Miss Lambert in the same character, the naivete of the peasant girl being admirably pourtrayed and warmly applauded. As Baa-on Puff Mr Wilkinson was extremely amusing, and although exception might be taken to the somewhat overstrained burlesquing of the character, we have but little doubt but that such a license was freely forgiven for the amusement which Mr Wilkinson afforded to the audience. On Friday evening the " Crimson Scarf" was submitted, followed by a musical version of " Box and Cox," the principal characters in the former being sustained by Messrs Hallam and Levison, and Miss Howe. The scene is laid in Venice, and, as might have been expected, is largely composed of conspirators' plottings and lovers' pls-us ; nevertheless the music, "without being of the highest class, embraces some remarkably pretty airs. On the closing night the triimveretta of "Cox andßox Ji> preceded the "Rose of Auvergne," bev,ter known as " Spoiling tie Broth." In the former the comic ability displayed by Messrs Vernon and Templeton was warmly ap;olauded, the eccentricities of the former gentleman causing no small amusement to those present.

The distinguished convert, the Marquis of Ripou, is at present visiting the Lakes of Killarney.