Aim�e Opera Bouffe

“There was a large attendance at this theater last night, the occasion being that of M. Hirschy’s Benefit and being made notable by the production of an opera bouffe by M. Offenbach, called ‘Bagatelle,’ not before heard in this city, and not likely to be sought for again—since it is dull. The story, introducing four persons, recounts the gallantry of a youth who protected a singing girl at a concert and afterwards sought her in vain, in two different characters, til at last she recognized him and signified her pleasure and approval. The conduct of this is exceedingly farcical, and the illustrative music has little character aside from flippancy. Mlle. Geoffroy sang with brilliant precision and deported with considerable sprightliness of action, and Mlle. Minelli aided the effect of levity and drollery by her coquettish behavior and deft vocalism.”  

“The representation for the benefit of Mr. Treasurer Hirschy, of the Lyceum Theatre, occurred last evening. Its programme included [see above]. The latter portion of the entertainment was of course the most interesting by reason of the novelty of the piece. ‘Bagatelle,’ however, is but the trifle its name indicates—a story built, as the French put it, on the point of a pin, and chiefly dependent for its effect upon the acting. Mlle. Geoffroy’s delivery is nothing if not significant, and her reading of both songs and lines was full of spirit and humor, and could only have been improved by a little more suggestion and a little less imagery. She was seconded in ‘Bagatelle’—the music to which is graceful and fluent, but not particularly characteristic—by Mlle. Minelli, while M. Walter presented a very comical sketch of a love-lorn musician. The acts from ‘Barbe Bleue’ and ‘Mme. Angot’ passed off very merrily. Miss Geoffroy ought to have been heard long since as Boulotte, to which character it seems likely she would prove more fitted than any one of her predecessors; and in the act from Lecocq’s opera, both she and M. Dequercy (Ange Pitou) produced an unwonted impression by their clever vocal work.”

Mr. Fritz Hirschy, the treasurer at the Lyceum Theatre, received substantial benefit from a performance given at that playhouse last evening by the French Opera Bouffe Company headed by Mlle. Caroly Geoffroy. The bill included the delightful second act of ‘La Fille de Madame Angot,’in which the familiar duet of Pitou and Lange (mingling politics and passion), the Augerean song, the stupid conspiritors’ chorus, and the lively scene between the old schoolmates, occur; an act of ‘Barbe Bleue,’ and a little one-act vaudeville, with music by Offenbach, called ‘Bagatelle.’ The performance of the act from Lecocq’s piece was not of remarkable excellence, but in the amusing duet from ‘Barbe Bleue’ Mlle. Geoffroy did the best work she has yet done in this city, and was vociferously cheered. The trifle with which the entertainment closed is scarcely worth a notice; but its slight stories and rather thin melodies were made as agreeable as possible by Mlles. Geoffroy and Minelli, and M. Valter.”