THE GAIETY SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 90, 18 April 1893, Page 5

THE GAIETY SEASON.

« FAUST UP TO DATE " TO-NIGHT,

Notwithstanding the web weather there was a very full house at Abbott's Opera Hou-e last evening, on the occasion of tho last production of "Miss Esmeralda' by the London Gaiefcy Burlesque Company. Amongsfc those present was Lady Glasgow, accompanied by several members of the Government House party. The burlesque was as on the previous evenings, most amu'eing, and the performance went oil exceedingly well. The principals met with greab applause for their excellent acting, sinErine and dancing. This evening the Gaiety Company will produce » Faust Up To Date "for the first time in Auckland. This is said to be one of the best pieces in the Company s bnlÜBMessfrSi'ms'"and Pettib are the authors of fche liberetto, and have to a considerable extenb followed the idea in the famous ooera The whole thing, however is ••burlesqued " in a most ludicrous iashion. The «cenery and costumes are splendid, and the incidental music, marches and dances are said, on good authority, to be unaaualled in attraction. The scenery was speKy Minted by Mr John Brunton, and L exceUent. The first acb is laid in the gorgeou grounds of the Paris Exhibition 1889 and the whole opora is modernised TLShFjS Melbourne and Sydney cruciat ngly funny. In tho first acb, the So Marguerite (Mies Addie Conyers) enacts tne role of a barmaid in a lager beer baMissLeamar sings the famous "Ta-ra-ra-boom-der-ay," with the accompanying dance, and she will be followed by Mr E.J. Lonnen in his own parody on tbe ridiculous song. Mr Lonnen comes out in a costume Sarto Miss Leamar, and the effect of his "Ta-ra-ra-boom-der-ay" is said to be most laughable. The original song is, so ridiculous that one would hardly think ib could be parodied, but #it is. During the piece, Marguerite sings the modern version of the famous ' Jewe Son? " and Mephisfcopheles appears in all hi, al'orv in the person of Mr Lonnen. The Popular*conception of -The Old Gentleman " no doubt, will not suffer in the hands of Mr Lonnen. The duel and death scenes are said to be very funny, especially when Valentine is saved from death ab the hands of his adversary by a huge Waterbury watch which turns aside the poinb of his trusty blade. Marguerifce's brother is a bibulous old major in the Army, who is always to be found in the hour of danger where the bullets are thickest-in the ammunition waggon. Mr Robert Courtneidge Sb Valentine. Altogether » Faust" will be one of the mosb amußing things ever nlaced before a Auckland audience. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Glasgow will be present at the Opera House to-night.