The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-15 00:00:00

D.RURY-LARE THEATRE.

Last even ing a new "opera comique," by Mr. Joseph
F. Duggan, was produced at this theatre with very great
success. Ti te libretto is simply a paraphrase of the
well-known. vaudeville Pauvre Jaques, as may easily be
seen in a a etch of the story as adapted and extended
by Mr. HE ID H Drayton. The opera is in three acts, the
first of wtilich is designated " a prologue." In this we
find that t ht i poor musician, Caspal, has won the heart,
and what its more, the hand, of a young Venetian lady
of high birth. The young pair have been secretly
married b y a monk, whose sympathies have got
the better .olt his discretion. The prospect of paternal
tyranny, as regards a match in another quarter,
faces Leord.e as a matter of course, and the couple
meditate am elopement, and so avoid the mischief
that is bre w ing. The unfortunate Caspal is, however,
laid hold of by the inexorable " pater-familias."
Twenty lon€ years intervene. Leonie, overcome with
tribulation,, 1 las departed this life, but revives again in
her daughter, who has become a prima donna and the
admiration o f all Italy. She lives with the Baroness de
Belleville, whose son Francois has yielded incontinently
to the fasci rudions which actresses in general, and prima
donnas in particular, are born to exercise. Leonie,
with due at n.iability, promises the young gentleman her
hand—but mot until she has discovered her father,
whom she his reason to believe still lives. Of course
he does, l!or- we have already been introduced to a
mysterious 'old composer, with a grey head, im-
mersed in poverty, and the prey to some dreadful
memories 'which have muddled his brain. Francois has
an interview with the venerable, man, and resorts to
that never-flailing alternative—a song of other days—
which clears! up all doubts, and brings father and
daughter into each other's arms. Francois wins his
bride, and ate curtain falls. The part of Pester, Miss
Feathersto no, a vivacious coxcomb, who buys old Cas-
pal's composiition, and parades them as his own, has
nothing to do with the main thread of the history, but
it supplies the comic element which is specificall y
claimed as the characteristic of the opera.
The music, which includes, we believe, some of the
better tnatter of Pierre, a former work of Mr. Duggan,
is essentially popular in its vein. Its fluency is undeniable,
and the melody which pervades it is agreeable ; while
the instrut mmtation exhibits both experience and facility.
The ballads which are scattered through the libretto
suited the ti iste of the audience so perfectly last night
that sever ail repetitions were demanded. There are
no choruses in the opera.
Miss Susannah Lowe, Mr. Elliott Galer, Mr. Dray-
ton, and Miss Featherstone were the vocalists, and sang
to the best of their ability, eliciting from time to time
great apphittse. The orchestra had been materially en-
larged for -the occasion, and Mi. Duggan himself pre-
sided. He was called for when the curtain fell with
vociferous et ithusiasm. The singers, too, appeared, and
many were the bouquets that were thrown at their feet.
The winfter season here terminates on the 25th inst.,
by which tine all who have not witnessed the perfor-
mances of Mr. G. V. Brooke, or not seen the other en-
tertainrgeots, should take an opportunity of visiting the
theatre. The benefit of the intelligent and enterprising
lessee is fixed for Tuesday, the 21st inst., on which oc-
casion Mr. Brooke is to appear in one o his principal
characters, in addition to other artistes of distinction who
have volunteered their services. Mr. E. T. Smith de-
serves all the support he gets, and we hope to see a
bumper hoaase on his benefit night.