OPERA HOUSE

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1918, Page 3

OPERA HOUSE

It is quite evident that - there ia "still. a ki<-k loft in the old 'mi*' and we must join ia the applause than greeted Mr. Tom PoUard-V entertainment tit the Opera House last evening. Though tin- elements were ungracious and 'rain toll pnu'iicjiily the whole evening a very line and most appreciative • audience witnessed the concert. Mr. Pollard's mime has so long been associated with only what is best behind the footlights that any programme bearing his name is afc oiiee accepted as "Hall ma:ked. ;; and hi? patrons* arc; assured that they will receive at his hands rlie very best he can command. The whole programme last night went with a. swing so often conspicuously absent among nmaieurs. The opening item, was v delightful little 2 net comedy by \V. S. Gilbert, entitled "Sweethearts,/' tin; dramatis pi.MSi.mul being Misses Al. Bush and M. \Vykle, and Messrs j.. MeG-lashan and Eric Moss. In Act L Jenny -North cote (Miss Bush) by /her tantalising mischevious flippancy, succeeds in entirely eluding My. Spreaubrow (Mr McGlashan) as to her reui feelings and playfully tieais'nll his attempts at "declaring himself" in the most light and airy manner rill the close of the Act finds him gone to India and her repenting the loss of her lover throujgh her own folly. In Act 11 after a lapse of ->U years they meet in the same garden as they had parted in in, their .youth, and • ai^cr a taiuy recognition and several "'faux pas" on the pan of Mi-. SpreacJbrow, whose memory Ims not. lieid the old sentiment, they acknowledge their "young love" for each other and deduce the Wral resultant from having missed "Love's Young Dream." Miss Bnsh filled her part well and her contrast between the light-hearted butterfly of 18 and the sedate old maid of 4S showed her .'o possess histionic instnet of more than ordinary degree. Her poses, gesture and abandon were all in keeping with her lines -which, were always clearly spoken, her coneepto.ri of lier character was natural and always conclusive. Mr. MeGlashau alsf, possesses {good dianVatic ability, speaks his lines clearly, has good *p»usation, and his points are "clean cut." His- "flowing and ebbing" hopes ia Ii is Jove scene in Acrf I caused the audience much, amusement and in Act II his attempts at refreshing his memory over the past landed him in some laughable ■■climaxes. H,is portrayal of tha man of 51 years who was goin<* to enjoy life was clever. Mr. Eric Moss as."Wileox" the gardener provided some, very .fine comedy work and convulsed the audience with his local hits which he interpolated most appropriately. He possesses a natural gi±t ±or comedy and though his part was short he go? in all his Whs. | Miss M Wylde as Ruth did well with the small paw af her disposal and did the "respectful maid" very well Banns the interval between Act i and Act U the Orchestra played an overture from "Maritana"'" which gamed quite an ovation 'fox the audience, the Cornet solo "Scenes that are brightest" and the clarionet solo "Alas those Chimes" beine very well played. . . " J

- la Part 2 Mr. Pollard presented the Greyinourh "Amazon Guard" *4 loaal young ladies all dressed in the, Guard dress irom ".La Mascotte. " Their inarches were prepared under the supervise of Sergeant-Major Arm- "'' strong and- the various evolution* were earned out wi.h most Commendable CrT 1011 eh ° Yoked °nthu»aJ2£ applause The lighting- effects added to the splendour of the whole specspcc^cle. Mr. Ivon , Wilson (llSitjka) rendered the solo "The Tan of - the Drum," from "La M^ascofte" v.'lucn v.-as enthusiastically received and in response. to a recall Mr. Wilson repeated a verse of the son.r with its chorus, lour of Mr. O. McLean's pupils (Misses MaeKeuzie. McKnighf, Bush and McMinn) danced a nthland Fling The little mites kept nicely together and on being recalled repeated tho dance. Miss Clmnn gave a most pleasing rendering of "\ Liffht m the Window," a lß ong apropos of i±o in the trenches. For her 'dainty effort she had. to submit to a- recall* and repented vportion of the song. I ALiss Ruby, Wilding, the charminll danseuse from Christchurch made her 3 debut before a Greymouth 'nudiencJl and won the plaudits of all for heS giace and agility in her Ballets. TheH wierdness. of her Baehannalian Dancafl and the lithe mbjious of her little-' body in the Dance Anitara were provocative of genuine applause. I n the scene "Tho Death of Nelson" Mr Ivon Wilson gave the audience ;aa absolute musical treat and his- response to a, well-deserved encore ".'Rule Britannia" .was most appropriate. « ' God Save; King, ' ' sung, by. the Company '..knecliiig at the - salute made a most fitting finale ,to the '' evening '3 entertainment. In conclusion ■ we' wisto' to compliment Mr. Pollard- on' I ', tiie complete success of Iris undertaking, . the- management, stage %ktmg, and incidental music and aocompanimetit by the Orchestra left . notlung to be desired and must have; assisiied the varioua". performances ■.materially. 'The clever ,- GUbeitiau comedy Sweethearts," the clever and artistic dancing by /Miss liuby AVilding, the excellent drilling 'and ballet marehniff by the "Amazon. Guards" with all its Lweali'h of colour. wUL be repeated' -to-night for the last time and ever admire sefd 'n' ' f- darodar d and .our ad vice is go. and see it. Seats may bo reserved at the -Bristol.::

For Influenza take Woods' Great Peppermint Cur©. N«ver fails.