[Illustration: Ra-ta-Plan, Ra-ta-Plan-quette!]
_Captain Thérèse_, Comic Opera. Music by ROBERT PLANQUETTE, composer
of _Paul Jones_ and _Les Cloches de Corneville_. Book by Messrs.
BISSON and BURNAND; GILBERT À BECKETT assisting in the lyrics. The
Carl Rosa Company, DRURIOLANO IMPERATORE, wouldn't wait for the
production of an Opera in Paris in order to bring it out here with the
French _cachet_, but determined to have one done all for themselves,
and to bring it out here first. So the French author began it, the
English one finished it, and the Composer wrote music for original
French and original English words. It is an international Opera; a new
departure, and in the Operatic world an important one. It answers a
question which was once the question of the day, "Why should London
wait?" London, represented by Sheriff DRURIOLANUS, did not wait, and
was served immediately with _Captain Thérèse_, produced Monday the
25th, at the Prince of Wales's Theatre; and the gratitude of London
has justified the generosity of all concerned behind the Curtain, and
in front of the house. Even in August the five million odd of those
left in Town can appreciate good music, capital acting, magnificent
dresses, and perfect _mise-en-scène_. The Prince of Wales's Theatre
has a reputation for level excellence in Comic Opera--it is the
_spécialité de la maison_, and the new lyrical piece is a worthy
successor to _Dorothy, Marjorie_, and _Paul Jones_. As _Captain
Thérèse_, Miss ATTALLIE CLAIRE reminds mature playgoers of that "such
a little Admiral" that was irresistible many years ago. She is bright,
clever, and, above all, refined. Miss PHYLLIS BROUGHTON makes up
for rather a weak voice by great strength in dancing, and Mr. HARRY
MONKHOUSE is genuinely comic. Mr. HENRY ASHLEY, always conscientious
even in his mirth, at the end of the Second Act, is suggestive of
the Astley's of the Westminster Road. Like the piece, he is very well
mounted. Madame AMADI is also excellent, a genuine lady-comedian--or
should it be _comédienne_? Then there is Mr. JOSEPH TAPLEY, a capital
tenor, and Mr. HAYDEN COFFIN, silver-voiced and graceful, the _beau
idéal_ of the hero of a Light Opera company. For the rest, the
chorus and band could not be better, and the production is worthy of
DRURIOLANUS, or, rather, CHARLES, his brother, and also his friend. So
Messrs. BISSON and PLANQUETTE, and their English _collaborateur_, may
toast one another, happy in the knowledge that the _entente cordiale_
has once more received hearty confirmation at the hands of the London
public; they may cry, with reason, _Vive la France!_ and Hip, hip,
BRITANNIA! feeling sure that, by their joint exertions, they have
obtained for the Anglo-Saxon race that blessing to the public in
general, and Theatrical Managers in particular, a lasting piece.
[Illustration: "'Ashley's' Revived!"]
[Illustration: "Flagging Energy."]
* * * * *
"WEDDED TO THE MOOR."
The sportive M.P., when the Session _is_ done,
Is off like a shot, with his eye on a gun.
He's like _Mr. Toots_ in the Session's hard press,
Finding rest "of no consequence." Could he take less?
But when all the long windy shindy is o'er,
He, like _Oliver Twist_, is found "asking for _Moor_!"
* * * * *
JOTS AND TITLES.--The busy persons who, in a recent Mansion House
list, had found quite "a Mayor's nest" in the highly important
question of a Cardinal's precedence, have recently started another
scare on discovering that the Ex-Empress's Chaplain at Chislehurst has
described himself, or has been described, on a memorial tablet which
he had put up in his own church, as a "Rector." Evidently a mistake.
If he erected the Memorial, he should have been described as "The
Erector."
* * * * *
NOTICE--Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed
Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no case
be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed
Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper. To this rule there will be no exception.