The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-25 00:00:00

Covent Garden Theatre.

Performed for the first time in England, at the above
far-famed establishment on Monday last, Where it is con-
tinued nightly to crowded audiences, Offenba,ch's cele-
brated operatic extravaganza, " The Grand Duchess of
Gerolstein," has already achieved a great hold on public
favour, which will doubtless be considerably increased
when the work becomes more generally known and
appreciated. At the outset, however, we must be per-
mitted to express the general opinion which prevails
amongst those who have had opportunities of witnessing
the performance at Paris, where Mademoiselle Schneider
in the part of the Grand Duchess has obtained for herself
so great a reputation, that there appears a general tame-
ness, a want of vivacity in the different parts which, at
any rate on the stage, is one of the most successful charttc-
toristics of Continental nations, and, in this particular in-
stance, unquestionably most important qualification for
the success of the author's production. In the English:ver-
sion, which has been translated by Charles Lamb Kenney,
it is reduced to three acts, and several modifications
and improvements have been made since the opening
night. The plot is by no means an intricate one, and is
intended as a skit upon one of the German Principalities
in the early part of last century. The Grand Duchess
(Miss Julia Matthews), like most young ladies of a similar
age (twenty), does not seem to know exactly what is the
matter with her, and shows an inclination to bestow her
affections in the most unsuitable direction. Moreover, a
century and a half ago ladies of her exalted rank had op-
portunities of indulging in two passions—love and war,
her taste for which are the leading features throughon
the piece. Private Fritz (Mr. W. Harrison) is the unfor-
tunate victim selected for the "ups and downs" of fortune,
and in the first act rapidly advances, through the favour
of the Grand Duchess, who singles him out at a review of
her troops, from the rank of a private to that of Corporal,
Sergeant, Lieutenant, &c., until it culminates in his ap-
pointment as Commander-in-Chief, Baron Vermuth, Von
Boch-Bier, and Count Thschalkscoron Vergiss-Mein"
Nicht. In the meantime, General Boom (Mr. AynsleY
Cook) suffers from the inevitable consequences
of the favouritism displayed towards Fritz, and
is removed from his command, whilst Baron Dick
(Mr. Frank Matthews), who has been preceptor to his so-
vereign, to relieve symptoms of uneasiness and pre-occupa-
tion which have become apparent in the Grand Duchess,
has declared war, is unable to stem the tide of affairs, and
although Prince Paul (Mr. Stoyle), who is engaged to her
Royal Highness, pathetically pleads his suit, he is put off
until another day, notwithstanding his fascinating appear'
ance in the gorgeous costume of a bridegroom. Wanda
(Miss Augusta Thomson), whose part is an important one,
and played to perfection, has caused the Grand Duchess
several disagreeable sensations from her attachment to the
favourite Fritz. The most striking melodies in the first
act are—" Oh! I doat on the Military," and "Lo, here
the sabre of my Sire !" which were rendered by Miss
Julia Matthews in charming style, and met with an enthu-
siastic reception. This young lady is remarkably self-
possessed, dresses in excellent taste, and her attitudes on
the stage aro entirely in keeping with the character she
sustains ; but there were one or two occasions when, We
thought, a little more dash and spirit would have made her
acting more perfect.
The second act represents a scone in an apartment of
the Palace wherein Baron Grog (Mr. Odell) is introduoil
as an envoy extraordinary of the Elector of Steis-Steis
Steis Langerhosen Shortsenburg, Prince Paul's father,
and is led to suppose he is to have an audience with her
Royal Highness; but, as it turns out, General Fritz is re-
turning to court the same day crowned with victory, the
audience is deferred to a future period. A grand Court iS
held in honour of General Fritz, who, at the request of
the Grand Duchess, describes in a rondo the laughable
denouement of his success. Her Highness then dismisses
the Court, in consequence of certain weighty interests of
State requiring a private interview with General Fritz,
when decidedly the most amusing interlude of the whele
affair is enacted, and poor Fritz is sorely tempted in his
faith to Wanda on behalf of a lady of the Court, in wiles°
interest the Grand Duchess entreats him in the most im-
passioned and fascinating manner. This may be the more
readily appreciated, if it is understood that the love-making
was on her own behalf. He resists those overtures and ob-
tains the permission of her Highness to marry Wands*
Meanwhile a conspiracy to destroy him is:being carried en
bylPrince Paul, Gen. Boom, and Baron Puck, in which the
Grand Duchess joins, naturally disgusted with her favo-
rite's ingratitude.MThe curtain falls on a grand tableau
in which Fritz and Wanda (in bridal appaitel) pay their
respects to the Grand Duchess, attended by a retinue of
the ladies and nobles of the court. In the Third Act th°
Grand Duchess has an interview with the conspirators,
amongst whom Baron Grog, whom she sees for the firs
,1
time, takes her fancy, and obtains the audience which ha'
so long been denied him, whilst the others are despatched
to make the final arrangements for the assassination of
General Fitz. On their return the Grand Duchess has
changed her mind, and refuses to have the favorite killed,
but does not object to their playing him a trick to gratify
their revenge, and at the same time consents to a betrothal
with Prince Paul. In furtherance of this scheme the unfor-
tunate Fritz, who has been incessantly disturbed during
the wedding night by having too many well-wishers, le
suddenly called upon to meet the enemy, who are reported
to have crossed the frontier ; but General Boom at once
despatches him to a spot whore, instead of finding some el
his troops, he meets with an indignant husband, who sup'
posing him to be General B001)3, and a surreptition
visitor to his wife, soundly thrashes him with a walking'
stick. On limping back to the camp ho describes his suffer-
lugs to the Grand Duchess, who is more exasperated hi
by the appearance of " the sabre of my Sire," which is r.
battered that it presents a tolerable resemblance to a ee_r s
screw or second-rate toasting fork. Her Highness take
advantage of the opportunity and strips him of all Ji
previously acquired honours, but as ho wants to learn ,o
road and write, he is made village schoolmast;
in accordance with his suggestion. Prince Paul is Wetly
happy at last, but not until Baron Grog, who evidell, to
looked like stepping into Fritz's shots, was discovereulost
possess a wife and three small children. We had ale
forgotten to allude to Nepomuc (Mr Fred. Payne) wbos
pantomimic action as an aide-de-camp was exceeding
droll, and afforded intense amusement to the audience-, is
The music, which is of the most pleasing nateeregr.
admirably performed under the superintendence o
Betjemaun.

A meeting has been held to-day to "receive the
report of the Oriental Gas Company, which state't'
that in submitting to the shareholders a staterue%
of accounts for the twelve months ending 3°t
June last, the directors had the pleasure to stilt°
that the progress of the Company hadrnen
such as to satisfy their fullest expeetat'°;o;
It was announced in the last report that about .%0
street lamps of the existing contract remained t°
put up, but this number was subsequently increas"..
to 265, to which must be added 33 public lava'
erected on the Maidan by order of the authoriti°'
ative!
making a total increase of 298 public lights
the year. Since June last an order has been-
ceived from the authorities for the erection of 3v:o
additional public lamps. The general revel;_
account shows a balance available for dividend. oi
after adding £l,OOO to the reserve fund
ay,
£12,192 ss. 101, from which the directors ree°o3
mend a distribution of 6 per cent., free of ine°.,t,
tax, payable on the 3rd day of December 7.'00
making, with the interim payment of 3 per cell r
tho
sth June lot, a total dividend of 9 per cent. or
year, •