Aim�e Opera Bouffe: Grande Duchesse de G�rolstein

“The revival of the well-remembered ‘Grande Duchesse,’ by which the Opera Bouffe, with its delightful nothingness, was first introduced in this country, of course drew a large audience at the Broadway Theatre. Though the popularity of the piece has waned, and it could never have the exceeding attraction of its first enthusiastic season under Mr. Bateman, with Mlle. Tostée and her piquancies [sic] in the title part, it has still enough of vitality left to render its occasional production desirable. Between Mlle. Aimée and Mlle. Tostée in this class of action—delightfully fascinating, bewildering and absurd, but not acting in any just sense of the term—too many parallels have been drawn to have done fair justice to either. They are very dissimilar, and each has qualities of her own so wholly unshared by the other as to preclude comparison. That M. Juteau appeared as Fritz is all that need be said under that head. The general features of the representation in acting, singing and scenery were also unexceptionable. The ‘Dites lui’ was repeated by Mlle. Aimée in answer to imperative encores, and the drinking song proved equally to the popular fancy.”

“The revival of ‘La Grand Duchesse’ at the Broadway Theatre, last evening, was enjoyed by a very large and fashionable audience. It is questionable if Offenbach’s best-known work will ever again enter upon a prolonged ‘run,’ but its occasional reproduction is still attractive, and the after-representation of the opera, to occur to-night, to-morrow, and on Saturday afternoon, will surely prove profitable. Last night’s representation was an unusually good one. Mlle. Aimée’s Grand Duchesse and M. Juteau’s Fritz are familiar personations, and they differed in no material respect from those which the admirers of opera bouffe have often applauded. The general acting and singing, however, were unusually satisfactory. Mlle. Aimée was of course compelled to repeat ‘Dites lui;’ the drinking song was also redemanded, and evidences of approval were bestowed with the wonted liberality of those stages of the piece particularly liked, either because of the tuneful music of the score or the comical incidents of the libretto.”

“Mlle. Aimée appeared for the first time this season in Offenbach’s opéra bouffe ‘La Grande Duchesse,’ at Daly’s Broadway Theatre, last night. The oldest and among the best of that peculiar school of music, it holds the stage wherever opéra bouffe is at all in favor and artists can be found to sing the parts. So far as acting goes, it is merely necessary to bring the German Duchesse de Gerolstein down to the manners of the wild creatures of the Jardin Mabile, dress her as fancifully and richly as possible, and have her lines delivered with as rollicking a disrespect for the high toned as practicable. With a fair voice which has certain rich tones, Mlle. Aimée compares favorably with most of the Duchesses who have come before the American public. She lacks something of the finer piquancy of Mlle. Schneider, who created the part in Paris; but Aimée’s broader merriment is infectious, and at the same time thoroughly Parisian. Her impersonation of this character is sufficiently well known not to require further comment than that she was in excellent voice and spirits last night and well received. Mons. Juteau once more appears as the lucky Fritz. He has a certain ch[illeg.] about him, which is the first necessity of the actor in this strange offspring of the opera and the [illeg.] casino. His voice is tolerable in quality, but not very extensive in quantity. Duchesne, who played General Boum, was very rampant, and his singing was more noisy than harmonious. Mlle. Rola[nd?] made a pretty Wanda; her voice is thinner than [is] desirable, though her singing is careful. The choruses were better given than usual, and the audience seemed to enjoy the whole performance.”

“…The excellence of Mlle. Aimee and her supporting artists in these operas is patent to our readers, as we have hitherto reviewed their performances, and we need only add that there was an increased attendance.”