THE MUSGROVE OPERA COMPANY

Evening Star, Issue 12027, 27 October 1903, Page 7

THE MUSGROVE OPERA COMPANY

It lias been decided to devote four nights to 'The Fortune Teller"" during the coming season of the Musgrov* Comic Opera Company, sfaich. commences at the Princess's Theatre on Monday next. Hftberfs tuneful opera has been an enormons' success in America, and during the Sydney and Melbourne seasons played by this" company ii complete wnfirraafion was gh~n to the verdict passed upon it by our American cousins. During the present ICew Zesu land tour 'The F'oituae Teller' has been everyvybere enthusiastically received. In Auckland ten j rights were devoted to the work-—on unusually long rmi for auy opera in New Zealand —and in that city the Press were unanimous in their praise. For example, :ifter paying the highest compliments to the individual performers for their efforts, the "Star' continues r—"Thus imich, then, for individual performeia; bat, as was said at. the beginning of tlris notice, it is the ensemJjles, both from the musical and the dramatic standpoint, that form tire greatest, attraction of this opera. The finale of act iL, with the hne trumpet work frsim the stage, is a masterpiece af power and cohesion. Gradually increasing in volume to a loud crashing of harmonious chords, it would stir the most impassive to something like admiration. The rnise-en-scene is o£ a high order of merit. Even- scene is most effective, that ki which tlte smiths accompiuiy at the anvil the 'Sword so"jg' of Saudoi- being perhaps the most beautiful. The dressing is no less T«nark;ibie—tV Irrigistuess and color of the stage, crowded as it is with aciore (all of whom, by the way, do seem to be aetois and not everyday ' supers') leading to some reznarkabiy tine stage pictures. 'The Fortune Teller' might well foresee i*"s own fair fortune, which will not be of the most meagre"' As mentioned in our advertising column.*, nine nights only will constitute tee Dunedin sseason. Of there four perfonnanovs will \y given of ' The Fortune Teller.' two of "Yhf Serenade," two of " Fia Diavolo," and .-iii:-» (if 'The Daughter of the Regiment.' T!k box plans for the entire season are now open at the Dresden.

"A baby is not a person,'' said an advocate at the How street Police Court, London, and every mother in England will protest. After much digging into prec dent, it was decided that a. baby in a cab is something between a person and a parcel, though not entirely either, and th;(t its fa-re is sixpence.