Aim�e Opera Bouffe: La Jolie Parfumeuse

“Mlle. Aimée last evening commenced at the Lyceum Theatre a farewell engagement to extend over the present week, at the termination of which she sails for France. ‘La Jolie Parfumeuse’ was represented to the gratification of a large and hilarious audience. When the curtain had fallen upon the last scene an amusing incident occurred. Mlle. Aimée has been in the habit of singing an English song in the second act of the opera. The piece was then awaited, and as it was not then heard, it was looked for in the third act. ‘La Jolie Parfumeuse,’ however, having ended without it, the assemblage rose to its feet, and fairly clamored for Mlle. Aimée and the song. The musicians had already left their seats, but the cries and applause continuing, they had to return. A few minutes’ delay followed, and then, the stage having been cleared anew, the curtain rose, and Mlle. Aimée, amid a storm of plaudits and cheers, sang, in a manner which, though in intended imitation of a ‘variety prima donna,’ can fairly be called inimitable, ‘As Pretty as a Picture.’” 

“A funny and unexpected scene was acted at the Lyceum Theatre last evening. The occasion was the last performance of ‘La Jolie Parfumeuse’ by Mlle. Aimée and her troupe. Recently Mlle. Aimée has added to her numbers in this merry little piece an English song called ‘Pretty as a Picture;’ last evening it was omitted in the regular course of the performance. The audience waited patiently for it; and as the green curtain fell disappointment was depicted on almost every face. Then there arose about; people stamped their feet, and clapped their hands, while cat-calls and ear-piercing whistles were heard from the gallery. After five minutes or so the musicians resumed their places, the lights flashed up, the curtain rose, and the defeated cantatrice swaggered upon the stage in delicious imitation of the people who sing and dance at the negro minstrel shows, amid vociferous cheering, and sang the familiar, stupid little piece with remarkable vim and original humor. Another new song—a French one—called ‘The Ducks,’ was introduced in the second act last evening, and Aimée’s rendering of that also was a marvelous piece of buffoonery.”