The daily gazette., 1881-03-22
Ann usenl entS.
THE PERFORMANCE LAST EVENING.

| THE PEHFORMANCE LAST EVENING.
The first performance of the new
opera of "OlIvette" was given in this
city last evening by Ford Opera Com
pany. The Opera House was filed
with an audience that was mainly dis
posed to be critical, but they we've soon
convinced that the opera would be q
success from the first and success it
was. "Olivetle" is one Of those light
operas that for the past year have be-
come successful, not altogether by the
merits but because the music is easily
understood by those who have not
Made a study of music. "Ollvetten is
bound 10 be success for many reasons,
principally because tue music is light,
| the dialogue entertaining, the plot
simple and the situations funny.
In presenting the opera Mr.. Ford has
gathered together company that will
rank above the majority Of those now
travelling in light operas. Most OF
them have travelled together previous
| ly, in fact it is nearly the same COM
pany that presented the Chimes of
Normandy here last season under Mr..
Ford's management. Having been to-
gether so frequently they are the bet
ter able TO understand one another's
abilities, aud present operas better
than a company that are strangers to
each other. Having paid 80 much at.
tention iu selecting his company Mr..
Ford has not neglected minor details.
The scenery used is new and is among
the finest that has been seen ON the
Opera House stage, especially that used
in the set ing of the first act. The efn
feet of the scene was heightened by
various colored lights being thrown on
the stage from stereoptican situated
in the gallery.
1t seems almost superhuous to speak
of the individual members of the com
pany on account of the audience being
spared the infiction of listening to a
stick" as there is not one IN this COM
pany.
Mr.. George Denham, as Captain de
| Merfinaac, was Just suited to the char
acter, and it would be hard 10 discern
which of the two he is best in, as an
actor or singer. Happily he has the
| faculty of combining both together,
! which few can do. He is an excellent
singer and an equally good comedian.
| Mr.. G. f. Lang acted and sang well
| The part of Valentine. He has a pleas
ing tenor voice, and good stage pres
| ence. Mr.. Charles +. Drew did well
as the Due DeS Ifs. His fine baritone
voice has improved since his last ap-
| pearance here. The most amusing
character was of Coguelic0t by Mr.. ii.
g. Curley. His very appearance on
the stage became the signal for hearty
laughter. OF Mr.. Charles Hogen-
dorp, as MareSOl. the same may be
said as of the other gentlemen mem
bsrs of the company.
Miss Blanche Chapman, who has be-
come fayorite with our amusement
gosrs, never appeared to better advan-
tage than last evening in OADette.
Her hne voice was in excellent order,
and when she sang the story of the
whale in the last act with chorus she
was enc0red six times. Miss Amy Cor
don made charming Countess, and
despite that her wardrobe failed TO
arrive presented charming appear
anee. She is gifted with fine soprano
voice, which, il cultivated in the near
future, will be one of the best on
the Lyric stage. Miss May 5temblei
looked chic as Veloutiae. She sings
we'll and acts with an abandon that is
pleasing to see. Mis- Mamie Taylor
made very charming page.
The audience was well pleased, and
the applause was generous. The
opera will be repeated again this even
ing.