The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-27
AMUSEMENTS.
The Academy ofNusfc-The Bohemian
Girl.


Girl.
tits not surprising that Balfe's charming
masterpiece should hold Its ground in the face OF
the newest productions Of the French, German
and Italian schools. The plot Is sufficiently COM
plicated and improbable, but 1t affords room for
striking situations and Is easily understood;
While the music Is lively and sparkling, from the
overture to the finale. There is no dullness, no
agony, In the opera. 1t is not great work
But it Is full Of catching melody, and contains
ballads which were famous twice ten years ago.
Last night the Bohemian Girl was splendldy per.
formed. There was no hitch, no hesitation, no
carelessness, either on the stage or in the or
chestra.
The prma donna Of the evening was Miss En-
ma Howson (Arline,) who sang with sweetness
and acted with bewitching grace. Her voice Is
very agreeable one except in some Of the lower
notes. and she uses 1t with skill and discretion.
Ia person, Miss Howson is highly attractive, AMI
Ter whole demeanor Is exceedingly prepossess
ing. The familiar ballad, ~ dreamt that dwelt
in marble ilalls," was encored, and the brilliant
singing OF "Ah what full Delight deserved the
same compliment Miss Howson will be great
favorte in Charleston.
The Gipsey Queen, q somewhat small but very
important role, was well acted and sung By Miss
Mischka, and the Florestine OF Mr.. J. G. PeaIes
was excellent. Devilshoof (AIr. II. c. Peakes) was
well made up, and his grotesque acting provoked
many o round of applause. The laundering notes
of his deep voice were tower Of strength in the
choruses. The Count Arnheim of MI. Henry
Drayton was q flashed peri "ance. This gen.
wi q0
much delicacy and expression, that The familiar
ballad was at once encored.
The Thaddeus Of Mr.. B. Bowler was triumph
for himself and rare treat for his public. In
the first two acts he did not exert himself to an
excess, but In the third act lie sang, "When other
Lips and other Hearts, dellciously. This was
encored, but it was in the "Fair Land Of Poland'
that Mr.. Bowler won his spurs He delivered Its
stirring strains with force and fire which fairly
electrified the audience, and brought ont storm
OF applause. There were many in his audience
who knew and felt what it was to have ''steel to
the bosom, and fire to the roof" and the song
was repeated with an even more startling effect
The choruses throughout the opera were sang
with the precision and completeness Of which we
have already spoken. Last night the company
was thoroughly aroused, and the choruses were
dashed of with will. The Gipsey's chorus,
whose leading strain runs through the opera, was
particularly we'll done, as was the Tambourine
chorus in the second act:
The fne duo Of Devilshoof and the Gipsey
Queen was capitally delivered and encored. This
was also the case with the quartette in the second
act scene 81
The stage arrangements were very complete,
and the grouping was highly picturesque. The
effects Of scenery and grouping in the first and
second acts were by far the prettiest that had
been seen on the Academy boards. All the
guards, retalners, gipsles and ladies marched and
talked and laughed-as they saug-wlth discreet
vigor, and the soldiers marched as though they
had just arrived from the cltadel-which, we sup
pose was about the truth OF 1t.
We have said enough to show our high and
wen exalted opinion OF the Richngs opera
Troupe, and again express the hope that their re.
naming performances will be better attended.
Charleston is the only Southern city which has
not given these artists crowded houses, and we
should be sorry to think that the finest opera COM
pa ny which the city has had for ten or fifteen
years would not be properly supported.
Tonight, Belllnl's opera, La Somnambula, will
be played-one Of the most charming operas in
the repertoire.