The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-21
OFFENBACHS LAST "BOUFF,E."
A VOYAGE TO THE MOON,

q la LufsIie i feerie in four acts and twenty-five
tableaux, was produced. 1t is scarcely neces-
sary to say that the house was FULL since TOR
the last week the most obscure seat has been
sought after at double its price, or that all
those might be seen in the stalls who assist at
those peculiarly Partisan fetes known as pre-
7niereS-journalists, politicians, foreign at
taches, fnanciers rich enough not only to
purchase their own box or stall, but also the
fauteul or baignoire of the cocotes who fol-
low in their train at pre'nieres, without reck-
oning the painters and sculptors of renown,
the actors and actresses not playing that
night; in short. every one who can by right
of conquest or birth aspire to the precious
ticket which opens the door, In fact, it is
sufficient for musical work to enanate from
Offenbach's pen for all that Paris which only
lives by pleasure to precipitate itself into the
theaetr where the fete is prepared, and to pene-
trate there at the price Of the greatest efforts
and sacrifices. 80 49, ..
What happens at every premiere of Ofen-
bach happened again tonight. His voyage
la Lune" has been suggested by, the sue
cess of Ground the World in Eighty Days"
1t is one OF those ferries in which the hbretto
occupies but little space, and IN which scenery,
machinery, costumes and legs play the prin-
cipal parts. A King has son who wishes to
60 to the moon. An engineer makes can
non twenty miles long, charged with hollow
Ddh, COaidiAiilS WIG 1AALSs pAO iihCO oiiu eAO
inventor. The cannon is pointed toward the
moon and. fred and four days afterward the
ball falls in the moon. Here the problem of
lunar exploration is solved. There is no need
to place more reality in it than that. The
scenes to which such plot gives rise may be
understood.
1t should, however, be said that there are
several very successful aOrcedlE IN the piece,
which were appauded, especially the air of
Dr., 81 Ia 10 l1,rQ Ia
some afinity to ''Girofie Girofa." The chorus
of artillerymen when loading the cannon; the
air "Je regarde,' by Mile. Zulmar Bonfflr,
and the exquisite sDuo de la Pomme," sung
by the same lady and Nine. Marcus; and the
overture, very well executed by the orches-
ira, were also very loudly applauded. 1t
should be added that contrary to the gen.
eral run Of Ferries, there were several inge-
NOUS and new ideas which were successful,
and which admirably surprised the public,
Mho expected more or less stupid libretto.
1t is in the second act, which passes in the
moon, that the authors, MN. Mortier, Van
loe and Leterrier, have succeeded best.
In the Lunar Kingdom the King dismisses
his Finance Minister. because he has too
much money in the Treasury. A great poet
a giant plays this part-has obtained the
first prize at competition. the King to
punish him takes away one of his decorations.
ceive decorations, which are taken from them
as they do some great deed. Those who have
none at all are, consequently, the most distin-
gushed. '.This is plan, says the travelling
Monarch. (which would have but little sue
cess with u.s." In the moon Kings are obliged
to work; their palace Is OF glass. When they
are inside their subjects watch them, and
when they do nothing their subj cts murmur,
hence no one wishes to be King, and the
heaviest man is obliged to take the office He
is elected by weight; the present King
weighed $50 kilogrammes.
~ only escaped the crown by thirty-fve,"
saws his confident. Lastly, love is not known
in the kingdom. Women are either useful
or luxurious works of art The useful
women look after the household, and the
luxurious women embelhSh houses. Chill
dren come from far-of isle, which is Obliged
to supply the capital. But the Terrestrial
Prince arrives and falls in love with the
Princess Fantasia, and it is here occurs the
Apple Duet, which recalls the Bible account
of Eve and the Serpent. The Princess Fan
tasia likes the apple which Prince Caprice
brings from earth, and love is awakened in
her. This act is original. somewhat light
perhaps, but witty enough to excuse this
failing.
The decorations are splendid; the one rep
resenting a forge is very beautiful, as well as
the forest. with light effects in the lunar
kingdom. The costumes are very rich and
the ballots very brilliant. Theapiece is, /
think. a success, less great probably than that
of nI e Tour de Monde en- Quatre. VIngt Jours,
but which will be marked. Evidently an att
tempt is made to follow in the steps of the
.sToui du Monde" and to omit nothing. The
elephant of the Porte st. Martin play is re-
placed by live camel which bears the King
of the Moon. The first act is long and heavy,
and halt the dialogue, which is not spirited,
should be struck out Nevertheless, one say
ing is happy: When staring Tor the moon
the terrestrial king tells bis subjects that he
Is about to leave them. They receive the in.
tellieence with cries of give lie Roi." 1T is
astonishing says the king, ~ was never SO
popular before. All the monarchical doc
frines of France are summarized in this
saving and scene. Real enthusiasm for kings
:. onIv felt when thew leave.