New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-12
MUSIC.
OPERA BouFrE-HERvE's "L'G1L cREvE."

OPERA BoUFFE-HERVE's "L'GIL CREvE.'
"L'ail Orere," which was produced last night
by Mr. Grau at the French Theaer the only work by
Herve which has thus far been presented in America
10 hike all the rest OF the bOue class In its general eharac
Nr-the music light, the words arrant nonsense the
plot prepOsterous, and the action and situations
~ incongruous it 10 possible TO make them
The story Of the oil err too absurd 10 be sketched
q sober synopsis There is a Marqus's daughter Fen
de Eoolesse mile Desclauzas with propensity for car
penter work. and also with propensity for young
cabinet maker. There is her father M Beokersl, who
unable to marry her of properly, offers her hand as
prize 10 the best archer. There il highly
hystercal marchioness, and diapidsted old Duke OF
Oger-theway due fenFaee, ~ Mussay)' sort o. oN'
teenth Century Major Pendennis, who Is always s"ao"
ing his false teeth Few de NObesse herseH air@hges
the target for the shooting match and her lover Ernest
On. PETITE appears among the competitors HIS AFRO"
nes wide Of the mark, but by mechanical con-
trivanee she makes 1t appear to have pierced the
bulls eye, and the pair are about to be united
when Altrdndrirore on Carrier. tho "r"Sh "hV' =" mo
village demands permission to try 10 surpass TINS shot
nv eeayjng Ernests arrow Just he shoots, the tar
get is overturned and HeT dc Nobfsse runs forward
with the arrow in her eyet The unfortunate archer
s arrested by the comic igendarme, Gerome M GaOep'
and danced off 10 prison in a scene 70 "hlch
description cannot do justice, and the meeting
breaks up in confusion How the pierced eye was only
another trick Of the young Flower Of Nobility how she
was cured by bevy OF mock doctors how AiTaadr'orc
was released through the agency OF his sweetheart
Dindonene Nine Rose BelD, and how finally every
body turned ont to be somebody else, and a.,
went as merry as marriage bels-all this is
She complicated story unraveled in the last act
me libretto Is by NJ Herve himself, and is
much more entertaining than the music The nonsense
s so perfectly audaciOus that it and then becomes
sublime. as for example in the Legend OF the Atmos
pherc Lobster - and there very comical hits,
for instance the last act where GtrOme discovered TO
DC somebody's long lost son, not by strawberry
mark ms left arm, but by blue veloci-
pede on his breast and instantly takes advantage
the disclosure ask his newlyfound father for loan
of hundred sous. With insignificant exceptions
the fun quite free from license and we congratulate
Mr. GIau upon the reform in his morals All the prn-
cpal parts were well acted. Nile Desclauzas looked
charming and full OF viyacy; Nine. Rose Bell was
fascinating peasant girl, and Mile Clementine made
very lively and humorous Marchoness. NJ. Gabe has
important part which does not, however, afford oppor
tuntes for so much Of his peculiar ou6 humOr the
audience expected TO see and although he made many
snce disappointment Carrier Beckers Petit, and NJ
Genot as a fussy BailiG were all good.
Tho is decidedly poor 1t has less merit and less
iveliness than Oenbachs and very little OF des
tined for popularity There is rather sprighty rOndO
for three female in the first scene, QUaS sOnt
oeRis two choruses OF the bowmen effective; and
AierGEdrirOre has romance, "a regards ROLES, ia
which there real sentiment although the refrain
Is loaded with hOrid Swiss ode but the elaborate
airs are abored and unuspired and all lack fuency