OPERA HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 287, 3 December 1889, Page 5

OPERA HOUSE.

RICKARDS' COMPANY TO-NIGHT

Variety ia charming, and after the very enjoyable season of senfcimenfcal and sensational drama to which the public have been treated by Mr Bland Holt they will no doubt be ready to receive Mr Harry Rickards and his English, Irish and Comedy Company wibh open arms and a bumper house. There's nobhing liks a hearty laugh bo dispel dull care, bo enliven spare moments, and to keep down the doctors bills, and bhe programme bo be presenbed by Rickards and Company at bhe Opera House this evening, if we may judge from thoir reception in the South, .should prove a specific for as many kinds of indisposition as tho most popular of patent medicines. It was their intention originally to play in ' Auckland for a fortnight, and the Opera House had been engaged for that period. Owing to the facfcthat theUnionCompany's weekly service has not yet been started between this port and Sydney, whither the Company are bound, ib has now been found necessary boalber bheir arrangemenbs in order bo catch the steamer leaving for Sydney early in the eusuing week. Consequenfcly they will play for a season of one week. Miss Katie Rickards will make her firsfc appearance before a New Zealand audience to-nighfc, having been hitherto prevented from doing so by an attack of rheumatic fever. The first attraction on this evening's programme is a farcical comedy entitled " Ma-in-law," and this will be followed by a variety of attractions too numerous to mention in a preliminary notice. The performers will include Mr Harry Rickards, the eminent aefcorvocalisfc, Katie Rickards, the Murphys— Pat and Ella—the Spanish Students, the Marionettes, and sundry other artists having particular specialties in the way of public entertainment. Although this is bhe largest company of the kind that has come this waV, being a powerful combination of a first-class standard of merit, they have announced very low prices of admission, viz., 2s, Is, and 6d. Crowded audiences are certain to be the result, and it will ■be well for intending visitors to secure their seats early to avoid the rush.