CARY'S BABY OPERA COMPANY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3264, 17 December 1881, Page 3

CARY'S BABY OPERA COMPANY.

Referring to the recent production of 'H.M.S. Pinafore' by this talented juvenile company at the Theatre Royal, Wellington, the Post says :—" The splendid style _in which the children went through this _ difficult performance astonished the audience, and won themselves frequent and hearty expressions of admiration. Altogether there were 42 children, ranging in ago from the little toddler of scarcely two summers up to the Ind or lass of 13 or 14. Of course, the singing was not of the most enchanting description, bufc the anting was remarkably good, the whole of tho scenes and sifctintiong being carried through without the slightest hitch. The little mites all knew their proper positions on the stage, and there was no confusion or bustling, but, on the contrary, the utmost order prevailed. Tho leading character's were judiciously cast, and were ably sustained. Ldnrt Robinson's Little Buttercup was an admirable piece of acting. There was no nervousness or hesitation about her playing, and besides being quite afc home on the stage, she displayed an amount of piquancy and dash in the performance of the part that was quite, refreshing. Ilebo and Josephine, taken respectively by Lizzie Schlierike and Annie Smith, were played well, Josephine singing the songs and in tho duet's very nicely. Dick Deadoyo (Master Knewstub) and Bill Bobstay (Master Willie Cary) were nuito in their element, and played as well as many professionals we have seen in these characters They thoroughly entered into the spirit; of tho thing, and although they did not bring out all the points of their respective parts, they kept the house in constant merriment. Knewstub danced a hornpipe capitally, and convulsed the house by unexpectedly turning a somersault at its conclusion. Sir Joseph was admirably represented by Master Smith, who spoke and sang very well, and Captain Corcoran (Master Armstrong) and Ralph Rackstraw (Master M'Loughlin) could scarcely have been in better juvenile hands. The choruses were done as well as ifc was possible to expect from juveniles. Milling led the orchestra with great judgement, and did not allow ifc to drown the voices of the children. All the leading songs, duets, and trios were encored, and Little Buttercup was honored with a special call before the curtain. The whole entertainment was really most enjoyable, and ifc is doubtful if an audience was ever more thoroughly amused than on this particular occasion." Mr Cary's company also play the comic operas " Chilperic" and "The Pirates," in the latter of which they open at Napier on Boxing night, 2' th instant.