STALL MEMORIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 226, 24 September 1927, Page 15

STALL MEMORIES.

THE TUNEFUL POLLARDS. (By STALLITE," formerly a "Pittite."') I was much interested in reading the remarks by "Pittite," published in your issue of the 21st inst., particularly his reference to Pollard's Lilliputian Opera Company, and subsequently almost grown up; it conjured many memories of the joyous entertainments provided 'by this talented body of young New Zealanders. Probably there has never been, in the history of the British stage, any person more capable of selecting and training the young for work of this nature, as the late P. Sullivan, in conjunction with his sister, Mrs. Pollard. Not only were the children made perfect in one opera, but in a very extensive repertoire. Thousands and thouands of New Zealanders who enjoyed the opportunity of witnessing the production of the most tuneful and popular comic operas extant cherish the memory to this day of their charm, and of the delightful and wonderfully well balanced rendition they gave of the successful composers and librettists, who were then at the zenith of their fame. I was amazed just lately by a vaudeville turn at a picture theatre by two so-called artists. It was vapid, silly, inane, mirthless, and without a vestige of anything clever; such, however, is the mental make-up of some theatre patrons of to-day that there were there quite a number of mental degenerates, who applauded. Shades of the clever versatile troup of New Zealanders! Memories hark back to their almost supernatural talent. All the Gilbert and Sullivan productions and the best of the Continental. and other comic operas, "Les Cloches de Corneville," "The Little Duke," "Olivette," "Bell of New York," "Tambour Major," "La Mascotte," "Paul Jones," and others, that at the moment I cannot recall. Staging, dressing, orchestral effects, ballets, and supremest of all, the atmosphere given and the true-to-life delineation of the multiplicity of portrayals represented by the company, in the diverse characters, eo faithfully represented. Memories indestructible will ever survive of the Beattie sisters, Marion Mitchell, Sissie Sammuels, Nellie Wilson, Gerti Campion, Maude Hewson, Nellie Cruickshank, the Careek sisters, Harry Quealy (since dead), Willie Percy, Alf Stevens, Charlie Albert, Jack Ralston, Eddie Nable, and many others,

each and every one perfect in their many roles. It is not pessimism that impels the comment, that their allround good training and talent we shall never see again. It warms and comforts, does the knowledge, that to Mr~. Pollard is due tbe everlasting credit !"•■>:• the moral training and watchfulness slie gave and exercised over the whole of her proteges, so that never <li<l the tongue of scandal in any way sully the names of her big bevy of talented and beautiful girls.