The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-06 00:00:00

ADELPHI.

" The Poor Strollers" (in which Mr. Webster and
Madame Celeste made their ?entree, and were welcomed
with the usual cordiality), was followed by the Easter
novelty—" A grand oriental spectacular operatic drama"
in two acts, called "The Caliph of Bagdad," and stated
to be founded on Boieldieu's opera of that name. It he
in truth, just Boieldieu's opera, enlarged in dimensions
by the introduction of a good .deal of Adelphi humour,
and with some portion of Boieldieu's music cut out to
make room for several modern interpolations which,
having an incongruous effect, might well have been
spared. The piece, however, was admirably got up,
went off with the greatest spirit, was most heartily ap-
plauded, and will prove a highly acceptable addition to
the Adelphi repertory.
Considering that the Adelphi does not profess to be a
musical theatre, the excellence of the performance was
surprising. The principal parts were not only well acted
but well sung. The character of the heroine, Zutulba,
was sustained by Miss Rodeo, a young lady who made
her first appearance (we understand) with a success which
may well be called triumphant. Miss Roden is tall and
has a fine figure, with features not regularly handsome,
but sweet and intelligent ; and there is a corresponding
sweetness in the tones of her voice both in speaking and
singing. She is evidently quite without experience on
the stage, and her movements consequently were timid
and constrained, but without awkwardness. Indeed,
her whole demeanour had a natural and ladylike grace
which was very interesting. Notwithstanding the con-
etraint with which she trod the stage, she spoke with
spirit and elegance, and when she came to sing she
showed that, so far from being a novice, she is an accom-
plished artist, whose talents have received the highest
cultivation. Her voice is a perfect soprano, not of
great strength or volume, but exquisitely soft, of
extraerainary compass, and as perfectly in tune as
any voice we have ever heard. She sirgs with
unimpeachable purity of style, possesses finished
fx.cution, and her shake, especially, is of singular
clearness and brilliancy. To these gifts she adds the
highest gift of all, expression: feeling herself, she makes
others feel. In short, it is long since we have witnessed
a more interet t'ng debut than that of Miss Roden.
Another debutant was Mr. Rolfe, a tenor, who had the
part of the Caliph, and acted and' sang in a manner
which gained the favour of the audience. Miss Mary
Keeley played the part of a soubrette, with her usual
arch vivacity, and sang some pretty music quite charm-
ingly. Mr. Paul Bedford, who is a sound musician and
an excellent singer, as well as low comedian, unrivalled
in his own peculiar way, filled the part of the Cadi with
Adelphi fun, and, at the same time, did justice to the
composer. The "spectacular" part of the entertainment
was capital. Tiiere was some beaut•ful oriental scenery,
and the costumes, decorations, pageants and dances were
not only brilliaet, but in excellent taste.

The first appearance of Miss nolen is thus favourably
noticed by our contemporaries :

( From the Times.)
The 'Caliph of Bigdad," from the quality of the
music, and the admirable manner in which the chief
parts were played, was eraineotly successful. To that
r• cult no one contributed in larger proportion than Miss
Roden, a young lady who appeared last night for the
first time on any :ttge. likr voice, though not power-
ful, is retnarkablf sweet, tad sho sings with much taste
and feeling. She did ample justim to the character t f
Z3tulba, and well merited the applause so frequently
bestowed upcn her by the audience, as well as the nu-
melons bouquets which graced the triumph at the con-
clusion cf the performance.