The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-02

VIA PcrichoIeD nc ths Academy or
Music.

Ine ADVENT OF the quondam Bateman troupe
Oi french artisles at the Academy OF Music last
evening was marked By an unprecedented rush
tthe Onenbachers TO witness the latest musical
ecoentrioity of the great opera boyfe maestro,
~ Is seldom that the Academy presents such an
animated scene, such brilliant and crowded
array. Indeed, from the time that the door was
thrown open until long alter 8 o'clock, the
single entrance was so densely Gro Wded that 1t
was impossible TO gain admttance save by run
ming the risk of being crushed TO death. There
Is certainly remedy for this state of things
and II is 10 be hoped that Mr.. Brgfeld, the
manager of the troupe, win see that the ser
vices of another doorkeeper are secured for the
rest of the week.
La Perichoe-the latest and weakest OF all
Ofenbscb's more pretentous productions-was
the attraction, being pre-ented to Ph,la ielphia
audience for the first time. The plot, which is
neither complicated nor elaborate, may be
sketched briefly a. follows:-
The incidents are supposed to take place In
the city of Lima. where LA Perichole" and her
lover, "Pcquiilo," iollo the romantic but not
always remunerative profession of street
singers. The Viceroy of Peru, "Don Andres de
Ribeirs." attracted by the beauty of the girl,
falls In love with her, and induces her to desert
her lover and enter his palace. Two of the
noblemen of the court, however, remind the
Viceroy that it is against the law for any but
married women 10 lnhabit the palace, and they
are accordingly ordered, under various heavy
pains and penalties, 10 find a husband for the
singer within half an hour. "Pequillo" having
been iatormed of LA PeriChole'sn deser-
tion Of him by letter from her, is
engaged In making o serious attempt q.
hanging himself when the noblemen NEE: HIM,
and considering him at subject for their pur-
pose, they get HIM intoxicated and persuade
him to marry the Viceroy's favorite. He is
recognized by "La Perchole," who gladly
accepts him for her husband, but he is too
much befuddled with drink to recognize her.
When "Pequilo" comes 10 his senses he finds
himself In the palace, but cannot tell how he
got there. He finally ascertains the facts of the
case, and is taunted by the courtiers With
having married the Viceroy's mistress Meeting
LA Perichole,n he Is indignant as we'll as
astonis he'd to find that she Is his wife, and furi-
ously uI brsiding her for her falseness, he casts
her from him, and behaves In such a manner
that the viceroy orders him to be thrown into
prison. "Ls Perichole' pretends to be angry
with ''Pequillo," but exerts herself to procure
his release. She then endeavors to convince
him that her conduct in the whole matter Is
perfectly blameless and "Pequillo," fuding
himself unable 10 resist her entreaties, accepts
her explanations and consents to forget and
forgive the past. The singers then seek the
Viceroy and declare that they prefer the streets
to the palace, and that they desire to resume
their old profession. The Viceroy, having had
enough bother with the pair, readily consents
to their departure, and the affair ends to the
satisfaction of all concerned.
IL 49, Ia.
TO have been depressed by the very himsy
groundwork on which they were compelled to
waste their energies, and the result reflects but
little credit on either. Neither the solo nor
- icerted parts display the rafting style of
OtfeBDach to the same advantage as the other
works by him to which we have listened here
tofore. At the end Of each of the three acts
the movement becomes both brisk and brilliant
after the true opera boufe fashion; but just as
Che sparkling strain OF music and broad bur
lesque of action get fairly under way, and the
audience begin to recognize the hand of their
hyorite master, both are cboked of by the
descent of the curtain. As a compensation for
this dearth of attractiveness, the whole affair,
in sentiment language, and action, is absolutely
marvel Of prudishness, which, from beginning
to end, is quite as fastidious and unobjection-
able as Martha the Bohemian Girl, or any
other grand opera of the highesttoned moral
school.
But, such as il Is, 1t is rendered with all the
energy and vivacity at the command of the
Erie railroad troupe. Mad1le Irma, SURPRISING
in her beauty and brilliantin her execution, does
all that she can with the role Of ala Perichole,"
and NJ. Aujac throws into that OF "Piquilo' all
his strength of voice and carefulness of acting.
To III. Leduc is allotted the part OF "DOn
Andres" the Viceroy, bat the role is too ham
pered to permit him to display 1.-THE of his
inimitable drollery. N. Lagrifoul Is positively
stupid as the "Count OF Panatellas," bat the
fault lies with Ofenbach and the man who pre-
pared the hbretto. Under these depressing in
fuences, we do the best we can for la Perichole
when we pronounce it, IN comparison with La
Gronde Duohesse, La Belle Helene, and Bar6e
Blsue, a downright failure.
"R0binsOn CrusOe'' at the Chestnut.
Ofenbach's comic opera OF Robinson Crusoe
was produced at the Chestnut last evening by
the Gallon troupe, for the first time in America.
A fair audience was in attendance, notwith'
standing the counter attraction at the Academy
of Music, and there was manifest desire to give
all due encouragement to the performers.
Robinson Crusoe is an attempt something out
of Offenbach's usual line: 10 was failure In
Paris, and It could scarcely be expected to prove
brilliant success here, except under very ex-
ceptionally favorable circumstances; and Miss
I talton, while she is to be commended for en-
aeayoring to introduce novelties, and to vary
her programme as much as possible, has rather
A. 1f ind in