THE OPERA HOUSE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10653, 14 May 1895, Page 6

THE OPERA HOUSE.

The Cunard Family opened their season »t the Opera House last evening. The entertainment provided was a very good one, and deserved a better house than that which witnessed it. Each item was greeted wish loud applause, and nearly every vocal and musical selection was encored. Perhaps the chief feature of the Programme was the cabinet trunk trick of ’rofessor Cunard, in which he mystifies hia audience by putting one of his daughters .into a huge trunk which has been secured and roped by a committee, without unlocking it or tampering with it in -any way. He also does a number of very clever tricks and illusions, several of which have not been seen here before. The rest of the entertainment consists of songs,, dances and instrumental items by members, of the family. Miss Helen'Gordon, who has a good mezzo-soprano voice, sang “Tyrants Soon” from The Barber of Seville, the cavatina “ Bel Eaggio” from Semiramide, as well as another cavatina, “ I’U Follow Thee,” all of which were acceptably given and encored. The banjo and mandolin duets of Miss Cunard and the professor were well rendered, as was also a waltz 6f the letter's own composition played on the' banjo by the Professor. Misses Nellie and Alice proved themselves to bo vary good song and dance artists, and also gave some capital character sketches. The company will appear again this evening.