"RIP VAN WINKLE."

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4421, 15 July 1884, Page 2

"RIP VAN WINKLE."

TliK announcement of the first production in Auckland of l'laiupictte's celebrated opera of " Kip Ynn Winklo " had the erl'ect of securing a large attendance at Abbott's Opera house la«t night. The stalls and pit wore packed, and numbers of intending patrons had to be turned away, while there was also a good attendance in tho dress circle. I'ivssuro of election news compels us to hold over our detailed report of tho ]>orfonnanco ; but wo may say briefly that it was v thorough success from first, to last. The staging of the pioco is carried out with (hat line artistic |HTCcption and attention to detail which is characteristic of tho present company, and tho various scenos are very effective, The music, as was expected, proved to be of tho highest order, and it is of a kind too which is calculated to growj upon tho hearer by repetition. Tho '" hit " of the evening was the solo by tho First Lieutenant (Mr Knight Aston), "My Pipe," with chorus. Many of tho performers also secured loud plaudits from tho audience, Mr Appleby, in the " transmogrified " Kip acting the part to the life. Miss Leaf, as the village coquette, continues to be as great a favourite with thu audience as sho was in former parts. Rip Van Winklo is certain to have a successful run, and should prove fully as ponulnr'o* any piece hitherto produced." It will be repeated till further notice.