Paul Clifford

Complete cast. “Full operatic chorus.”

No mention of music. 

No mention of music. 

No mention of music. 

No mention of music. 

“…the visitor hears lively songs by Miss Emma Howson, Mr. Collins, and other warblers; and, if he be gentle and tolerant,--as is always best, in a world of blunders, defeated strivings, and half-successes—he will enjoy the nonsense as it passes, and drink in such of the music as he can digest.”  

“Mr. Collins, who made his appearance after a long absence, upon the metropolitan boards, begins to show the marks of age, both in his singing and acting. In the former his voice is uncertain, and some changes were made in consequence in the songs introduced in his role. On the evening in question he sang ‘Believe me if all those endearing young charms’ so well that he was rewarded with a hearty encore. Long Ned was well acted by G. C. Boniface, who was careful and correct. Scarlet Jack was played with spirit by C. A. McManus, who sang, in a pleasing manner, several songs and a duet with Miss Bessie Sudlow, ‘Oh Promise me by those Bright Eyes,’ which was loudly re-demanded.” “S. B. Duffield played Augustus Tomlinson, with effect, and we regret that he was not allowed to demonstrate to the audience the quality of his fine tenor voice.” “She [Emma Howson] is of medium height, has a remarkably pretty face, a finely rounded form, a pure soprano voice, under thorough control, and rich in tone. As she had been educated for the operatic stage, we did not expect excellence in acting, but we were agreeably disappointed…The music assigned to her was one of the distinctive features of the evening, among which may be specially noticed ‘I Saw Him but Once,’ in the second scene of the second act, which was beautifully rendered, and an introduced song, the title of which we did not learn, with flute obligato, was sung in such a manner that an encore was demanded, conceded, and after its execution the plaudits were loud and long continued. Miss Howson has a gift which few vocalists possess; even in the execution of the most difficult passages her face is never distorted, but ever maintains a pleasing expression. We are so much pleased with this young lady’s efforts that we regret we have not an opportunity to hear her in opera. Terpsichore Slopperton was cast to Miss Bessie Sudlow. Her elocution and pronunciation are at times both defective, and her singing voice, though naturally good, was comparatively ineffective, through lack of proper cultivation.”