POLLARD'S OPERA COMPANY.

Evening Star, Issue 11167, 16 February 1900, Page 2

POLLARD'S OPERA COMPANY.

•THE GEISHA.'

The whole of the civilised world haß been talking about« The Geisha,' or reading about it, during the past two or three years, and it was therefore to be expected that the citizens of Dunedin, who really do take an intelligent interest in theatrical and musical matters, would give a good " houee" to an accredited representation of the celebrated opera whenever the opportunity oame this way. It is doubtful, however, whether any who went to the Princess's Theatre last night expected to see such a very large audience as that which assembled to thank Mr Pollard for his enterprise. Nobody at the finish had a choice of seats —it was a case of taking what one booked for in the circle or what could be seized downstairs, and many perBonshad to be oontent with standing room only. From the managerial point of view, then, the experiment of bringing 'The Geisha' to Dunediu may bo counted a distinct success. And we deem it quite safe to say also that tho public were quite satisfied. There is no pretence of elaborate plot m Mr Owen Hall'a part of the work. Pretty nearly everybody knows, or has an idea, that a geisha (pronouueed "gayshu," to rhyme with "Asia") is a Hingir.g girl in a Japancßo tearoom. The particular geisha whose adventures form the story of the piece now under notice is the leading star in a teahouse at Nagasaki kept by a Chinaman named Wun-hi. She captivates Reginald Fairfax, the superior officer of H.M.S. Turtle, and thus raises the jealousy of the Marquis Imari, chief of the local police, who, regarding O Mimosa Sau as his own property, make 3 her attentions to tho Eaglieh officer the excuse for cancelling tho license of the tea-house and ordering the sale by auction of all the appurtenances thereof, including the apprenticed geisha*, this being hi 3 device for scoring over tho foreign devils and securing O Mimosa San for himself. The flirtation aa between the Geisha and Fairfax haß also caused a commotion amongst certain English ladien who aro visiting the treaty port in a yacht, the member of their parly who is in the deepest trouble being Mias Molly Seamore, Fairfax's recognised sweetheart. lusteud, however, of taking tho matter seriously to heait, she ha 3 a cry, wipes her cyeK, and becomes a gei'sh* herueif, with the twofold object of being revenged on the fickle British officer aod at the same timo enjoying the fun which she believes belongs to life in a tea-house. So nmltera st»nd when the auction comts on, but changes come about very quickly, for O Mimosa San induces the Eoglish ladies to buy her and thus prevent her falling into the clutches of thu ogreish chief of police, whilst Molly Seamore, now known as "Roily Poly," iB knocked down to him at the upset of 100;!ol. The reat of the piece deals partly with the troubles of the English ladies over their acquisition, and more with the adventures of the maiquiu and hie English geisha, the merest scraichingof whom reveals a Tartar. Some of the situations are decidedly comical, particularly tho aueciou scene ; and the story, such aa it is, at no point grows confused. But the chief merit of 'The Geisha' is its music. ThiH ia consistently pretty, to a large extent original, and invariably interesting, and we oauuot call to mind any work of its class, short of the Sullivan series, in which the music reaches a higher level. The concerted items, as for instance the kissing duet, are all good music ; and some of the solos, Buoh as ' Tho Jewel of Asia,' deserve serious attention and remembrance, while some two or three of the choruses noticeably the one in which the auction is bewailed iu tho minor mode, and the short four-part piece which immediately precedes the sale—seem likely to have a far longer lease of life.than tho flimsy, music that one generally hears in these light operas. We are," in short, very much pleased with 'The Geisha,' and count it a fair thing to express high admiration of Mr Sydney Jouos's music. Mr Pollard himself probably appreciates it. This is a fair conclusion from the fact that his company as reconstructed for the purpose of presenting 'The GeJßlm' is the strongest combination he has ever brought to Dunedin. Miss Florence Perry, who Whs engaged in London to impersonate the chief geisha, is unquestionably a capable actress, and her singing is that of the cultivated vocalist. Laßt night her mezzo-Boprano voice was hardly heard, at its best, since, owing to a cold, forced to juggle with tho high notes ; but the audience noted with pleasure abundant evidence of this young lady's ability. Her voice is clear and sweet, and she thoroughly understands how to sing. Mr William Paull, the English baritone, cast as Reginald Fairfax, may also be voted an immediate buccesß, since he acts with briskness and foroe and sings in splendid style. One gratifying feature of his singing is that every word is distinctly uttered. In thiß reßpect Mr Paull's example might well be copied by two or three members of the company, who, either from hurry or from mixing up their laughter with their singing and talking, leave the audience to guess what is being eung or said. Tbisattimes becomes quite aggravating, and is probably the cause ot some of the jokes beiog lost. With Mr Paull not a point is missed—he is a great acquisition to the company. We like Miss Jennie Opie for

the same reason. In 'The Geisha' this capable actress has very little to say, and is not called upon to sing at all; nevertheless she was sufficiently in evidenoe in the part of Lady Constanoe to amply prove her worth. Misb May Beatty, as vivacious as ever, is nicely suited in the part of Molly, and Miss Gertie Campion is altogether at her ease as the French girl who tries to oonaole the amorous and dictatorial marquis; whilst on the male side we have Mr Carter as a naval lieutenant, Mr Nable as the auotioneer, Mr Stt phenß as the Marquis, and Mr Percy as the Chinaman—all at their best, which is equal to saying that they are doing good work. All the leading songs were encored, and the whole performance was a distinct success. Mr Arthur King now haß charge of the orchestra, and we compliment him on the taßte with which the accompaniments were played. ' The Geisha' will be repeated this evening.