Richings English Opera: The Enchantress

“‘Come, friends, and listen to a story, ’tis of an Enchantress gay and free.’ Thus chimed the poet, in his rhymes, and thus upon his rhymes and chimes we ring the changes of the times; which is also good poetry for a man whose ‘heart’s bowed down by weight of’ infernal revenue taxes; ‘but hard as are these ills to bear,’ continues the poet, ‘and deeply though they smart,’ we feel it our duty to press on, to cater for the entertainment of our friends, and provide three meals a day for ourself and an interesting progeny. ‘To this complexion must we come at last.’ So on the 14th inst., like James’ three solitary horsemen, we wended our way to Niblo’s, to see the romantic drama of the ‘Enchantress,’ produced by the Richings’ Opera Troupe. The mise en scene—Ici on parle Francais—[French spoken here.—Ed.] was brilliant, the costumes nearly all new and gorgeous, the whole giving evidence of a heavy outlay on the part of the manager and Mr. Richings. The spectacle ran through the week, gaining nightly in popular favor. Miss Richings, as usual, was the Enchantress, and as we have repeatedly alluded to her excellence in this character, it is unnecessary to say anything farther upon that head. Concerning the lady we may offer the verse annexed, translated from the Irish, which will convey to the reader some idea of our versatility in mastering languages:

Enchantress, we call thee, for they magical skill

Can soothe every sorrow, and heal every ill;

Who hear thee, they praise thee, and weep while they praise,

For, charmer, thou stealest thy strain from the fays.”