Grau French Opera Bouffe: L’oeil crevé

Brief: “At the French Theatre this evening Rose Bell will resume her original part of Dindonette in ‘l’Oeil Crevé.’  The music of this opera excites diverse criticism as to its melodic features; but all are united in admiring the fine choruses, so superbly sung by the male members of Mr. Grau’s chorus.”

“’L’oeil Crevé’ is nightly attracting large audiences to the Theatre Francais; but it is decidedly too heavy, with too much Herve, to enjoy what is termed a long run. It lacks the sparkle of Offenbach, possesses too much straining after effect and is totally destitute of that effervescent wit peculiar to opera bouffe. Mme. Rose Bell is announced to appear in the opera this evening.”

“Despite the inauspicious weather last evening an appreciative if not a large audience assisted at the eighth representation of Hervé’s ‘L’Oeil Crevé,’ at the French theatre. The principal feature of the performance was the reappearance of Mme. Rose Bell, who has lately been suffering from a severe indisposition, in her original rôle of Dindonette, the belle of the village. The house was well filled with an audience evidently predisposed not to be too exacting upon such a bad night, but as the artists were all in excellent voice, and as each did his or her best individually to please, there was but little need of this intended genersotiy. Mme. Rose Bell upon her rentre was warmly received, and, with the exception of a slight hoarseness, which only manifested itself occasionally, was in splendid spirit which made her such a favorite with the New York public in the sparkling ‘Geneviève.’ She was rapturously encored several times in the first act and again in the third. The choruses were superbly rendered, the bowmen carring off the honors of the evening. Mlle. Desclauzas, as Fleur de Noblesse, looked and sang as charmingly as usual. Messrs. Carrier, Beckers and Gabel were excellent in their several rôles, and each received a fair share of recognition from their auditors. ‘L’Oeil Creve,’ though not abounding in solos and a little draggy in parts on account of too much filtering with dialogue, possesses much merit and is fast gaining a hold upon the music loving portion of our community. It is improving with each successive representation, and as the artists become more familiar with their parts and tone down certain exaggerations in their acting it will certainly become more popular with our citizens.”