, 1873-01-25
ADJUSTMENTS.
OPERA ROUTE.

OPERA BoUFFE.'
Aiken's Theatre was thoroughly crowded, last
evening, upon the occasion Of the performance
Of "La Perichole,'' which WIS given for the
benefit Of Aimee. Tho audience, both in point
OF numbers End character, was o very handsome
testimonial to her popularity, and the satisfac-
ton abe aud her troupe have given during the
present season. The opera Of La Perichole u
is one which. is peculiarly identified with
Aimee, as she frat introduced it in
this country, in New York, and ia the
only ono who has performed the character
in. Chicago. It is her best part, and her most
grateful and graceful part. 1t is less Offensive
in character than any other which she plays,
and it gives her Nh opportunity for some very
neat action, and puts her vocal abilities to se-
yere test. Both as the street singer Of Lima,
and IS the attache Of that remarkable court OF
Don Andres de Ribiera, the viceroy, abe has ex-
cellent opportunities for dramatic effect, and
these she improves to the utmost Of her ability.
The opera itself Will hardly ever prove
o great fayorite. It is too ..tally, and
the talk is tedious. The vocal numbers
are few and far. apart, separated from each
other by dreary conversational platitudcs, which
are all the more dreary for being in foreign
text, which it is well nigh impossible to follow
even with ibreeto.' Some OF these numbers
nave hl1 u oAtIpaGu Hu111It 1laF01p DOt
Of them are serious, and when :OEenbach be-
comes serio,s be is simply borrower, and also
Iabors undor the disadvantage Of an uncertainty
in the mind Of tho listener whether he is
really serious or not The paucity OF vocal
numbers imposes heavy dramatic burden upon
Aimee, but it is a burden which size beara very
gracefully and very easily. In tho costuming Of
the character, both as the street singer and in
the palace, sho was simply superb. IN her ac-
tion, there WAS nothing to offend one who was
not over-fastidious, and Jet there Was enough OF
freedom to suit it to the 0Nenbachian idea
The coaraeness Was refined even in the drunken
scene, which was given with natura1ness in
detail which made Fery effective picture,
and in fact Was nearer to life than many repre-
sontaions on tho dramatic stage BY actors Of re-
cradle pathetic power and good expression. II
her vocalizetion, indeed, we're equal to her con-
ception Of tho song and her dramatic ability, tho
performance would heyo been very remarkable
in her singing, that the purely musical features
and strained. As dramatic rep
1eeentation, however, hor Peric4oze is
very fascinating and beautiful, all the more so
TINT it contains nothing Of grossness or vulgari-
ty. Jutean's Piquino was an admirable counter
part to Aimeo's Perichole. He has thus far done
everything well. He is IN excellent comic actor,
full of drollery, and remarkably ,vivacoup,
prompt, aud unhesitating. His voice, which, in
Eei7ous opef8, Honlo be q very mediocre ono, 18
specially suited to Offenbach's music, both in
quality and volume. In the second act be gained
a wcll-dcserved encore for his sing
ing Of the "Ecorte, Q Roi," in which
ho made the denuaciatioa OF Per;caoe
very effective. The remaining characters were
but indifIereutly taken, excepting, perhaps,
Ducheane, whose presentation OF The Viceroy
vas very dron. This afternoon 'sThe Grand
Duchess" will be given, and this evening
Lecocq's opera Of s'1ea Cent Yiergesn for the
drst time in Chicago We nte glad to notice
that the announcement Of opera boutre for Sun
day night haz been withdrawn. This evening
will witness the last performance Of the season.