Birgfeld French Opera

“To conclude each evening with the charming Operette of MONS. CHOUFLEURY, during which Mlle. TOSTEE will play a Concerto on the piano, accompanied by the orchestra.”

“During the three remaining nights of this week Tostée and Irma will appear at the Fifth Avenue theatre [sic] in the same piece every night—namely, ‘Le Mariage aux Lanternes.’”

“Last night a dish of meringues or bon-bons—the merest trifles in the world—was offered to the patrons of the Fifth Avenue Theatre. To dignify such trivial vaudevilles with the title of Opera—even of Opera Bouffe—would be like calling ‘Box and Cox’ high comedy. Two droll little farces interspersed with occasional third-rate songs hardly form an entertainment worth asking the public to. ‘Le Mariage aux Lanternes’ and ‘Monsieur Choufleury,’ however, are very well performed, In the former piece, Irma and Tostee both appear and vituperate against each other in a manner naturally to be expected from rival prima donnas. The latter farce relates to the troubles of a hospitable gentleman who invites his friends to a grand musical soiree, but, just before the hour appointed is driven to despair by receiving ‘regrets’ from all the artists on whose musical talents and amiability he was depending. His sprightly daughter, with her lover, comes to the rescue by volunteering to disguise themselves as artists, and, with the host himself disguised in similar manner, they entertain the company. An awkward servant (Decre) and an exaggerated lady visitor, personated by M. Guidon, add very much to the merriment of the performance.”