Bagagiolo and Ruotolo took their' benefit, when Ricci's comic opera, Crispino e la Comare" was given for the second time this season at the Lyceum Theatre. This amusing and clever opera was performed no longer ago than the 12th instant, but, confided to the artistes who appeared in it on Friday, the repetition deserved better support than was accorded to it, and we are sorry that the bénéficiers did not obtain a faller house.
The opera was, if possible, better rendered than on the previous occasion this season, and those who only saw it performed last year by Signor Cagli's Company, could hardly recognise it as the same composition, 40 capitally was it done by the present Company. All the fun with which the piece abounds was made the most of, and the whole carried through with a verve and spirit most commendable to all engaged in it. The burden of the opera falls on Grispino and his wife Annetta, and Signora Milani Vela and Signor Ruotolo never failed to bring out the many beauties and clever morceaux that the composer has invested it with, so that the audience were tified and amused from the rise of the curtain on the first act close, when all engaged in the piece were loudly recalled.
Signora Milani Vela proved a most able exponent of Ricci's bright and sparkling music, and her acting possessed all the archness and vivacity that the character requires to be perfectly rendered. The aria in the first act, Miei Conti, was capitally sung, as was also that in the second act; and in the duo with Orispino, Se trovasti una comate, at the conclusion of the first act, the audience was fairly carried away and would have wished for a repetition of it, and were only content with the reappearance before the curtain of the singers. 'Throughout the two following acts, there was no falling off in the Signora's singing or acting, and she almost seemed to' have reserved her powers for the brilliant execution of Annetta's aria in the lant act.
Signor Ruotolo was host in himself, and never allowed the interest in Crispino's of being a good buffo singer, Signor Ruotolo isa genuine comedian, and has learnt the difficult task of steering clear of vulgarity. The only fault we could find was in hi make-up. In the first act he appeared in costume that would have served for a cockney cad in a modern farce, whereas the other characters were attired in the dress of a previous century. And then, when through the fairy's assistance his social position has been changed for the better, his dress made him appear rather as a young swell of the period than the pompous, conceited and ignorant charlatan that Crispino became. In a less meritorious performance these defects would perhaps be overlooked, but Signor Ruotolo's Crispino is on the whole so good that such blemishes should not be allowed to appear.
The other characters in the piece had not much to do, as the part of Lisetto had been cut and the tenor part, undertaken by Signor Gozolini, thereby much curtailed. But what little he had to do was done well. Signor Bagagiolo made a capital Mfirabolano, and shared with Signor Ruotolo the success of the quarrel scene, and was particularly good in the subsequent trio with Crispino and Fabritio, the Intter Bignor Corti, Signora Perelli appeared art being very creditably sustained by
as the fairy, but her rendering of the character somewhat lacked animation, though she sang the music of the correctly. Signor Bucelli filled the small part of Don Asdrubale, and was useful in the concerted music.
Between the first and second acts of the On Friday night, the 21st inst. Signori opera Signor Bagagiolo sang the celebrated. La Calunia, from "Barbidro" in his very best style, and was loudly applauded.
Between the second and third acts Signora Cobianchi and Signor Ruotolo gave the last act of " Pipelé"—the drunken scene,—which introduced the Signor in a now phase of comicality, while the singing of the Signora was such as to make the audience wish that the scene was a more prolonged one than it turned out to be.
All present enjoyed the evening's entertainment thoroughly, and those absent missed a treat, but as Signor Cagli offers an inviting programme for of operas, we shall have a welcome of further waintance with the artistes who so pleased all present on Friday.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.