THE Rickards Combination.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5684, 18 November 1889, Page 2

THE Rickards Combination.

After an absence from Dunedin of about three years, Mr Harry Rickards is about to revisit us, bringing -with him an entirelynew combination, with which he appear? atthe Princess's on Wednesday evening. Theentertainment will begin with tho amusing comedy " Ma-in-Law," the scenery for which has been specially prepared from the brush of Messrs George Gordon, J. S. Willis, ami others. The story of the comedy is easily followed. Fred Neville, a young Life Guardsman, is on tho eve of his departure for tho Crimea, and he invites his./?:fMcwand her mother and a few particular trieuda to an evening party, which is held in the drawing room of his palatial establishment. Dull care and all thoughts of the ensuing campaign are banished for the time, and the momenta speed merrily with songs and the irresistibly comic scenes in which theprospective mother-in-lawplays a prominent part. Then we are introduced to a country lane in England, and witness the last sad farewell said between Neville (Mr Bickards) and the girl of his affections j while tho next scene presented is the historic battlefield of the Crimea, where Neville meets a soldier'sglorious fate_, and is buried. The scenery throughout is in Mr. Gordon's very best style, and includes magnificent views of Hungerford Bridge and Westminster Abbey, In addition to the comedy company proper, Mr. Kickards brings with him twelve special artiste, recently engaged in England for an Australian season. Mr. James Bell was for many years tht, leading s|>irit in Bell's Minstrels, who made their name in tho English provinces; Miss Marian Coustauee is a banjoist and danseuse ; Miss Ada Delroy is oertain to establish herself a primefavorite with her jodelling, that attractive' and romantic vocal music peculiar to the Swiss guide. Then there are thoLiliputiau Midgets; Pat and Ella Murphy, Irish character delineators ; tho brothers Lopez, the talented mandolin and guitar songsters* and instrumentalists of the Spanish Students, who were secured after that troupe disbanded ; Mr Davys, who was a member of the London Opera Comiquo;. Misses George Devoe and Katio Rickards, Mr Fred Terrace, and Harry Rickards, burlesque artists. Notwithstanding that the combination is an unusually strong one,. Mr Rickards proposes to revolutionise the theatrical business by playing at million prices. He has just ..concluded most successful seasons in Melbourne and at the Broken Hills, and is now building a large theatre for his own use in Bourke street, in the Victorian capital.—Duuedin Star.