THE POLLARDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11884, 6 May 1899, Page 8

THE POLLARDS.

FUTURE OPERATIONS OF THE • « COMPANY. MR POLLARD’S NEW ARRANGE-'. • r MENTS. . The development of the Pollard Opera Company up to the present has been sure and steady, and it was not in the nature of things that it should now stand still. When it was announced, therefore, that Mr Pollard had gone to Australia for the special purpose of conferring, with Messrs Williamson andMasgrove, the public concluded that the already lengthy repertoire of the company would be added to, and possibly that the personnel wo'tdd be strengthened. Mr Pol-•Jk-rd returned from Sydney yesterday, and in the evening, behind the scenes at the Theatre' Royal, -courteously afforded a re- , presentativo of the “ Lyttelton Times ” an opportunity for a brief chat regarding the future work of his company. “There is an impression abroad,” said Mr Pollard, “ that I intend to confine my operations to New Zealand, and to make this colony the permanent home of my company. I could say a lot of nice things about New Zealand, but I could hardly make a promise like that. I may get away to Australia at any time—not that I am going yet a while. But the company is now really too good to be kept in one colony. I’ll give you the. opinion of Mr Watson, the manager whom Messrs Williamson and Musgrove imported from London, on the subject of our productions. ■ He said that ‘ The French Maid ’ and ‘ The Gay Parisienne,’ as produced by us, were fully equal not only to the Firm’s own work, but to the English productions.” Are you willing to make public the nature of your new agreement with Messrs Williamson and Musgrove? “ Well, I can tell you generally what I propose to do. lam not necessarily to confine myself to New Zealand, nor is the Firm to keep away because lam here. Indeed, I should not be surprised if one of the companies now playing in Australia were to visit New Zealand shortly. But I ska'll bo able to get the New Zealand rights of new pieces, so that they will be produced here at the same time as they- are being staged in Sydney and Adelaide. You will 1 thus have things just as new and just as fresh'as they do in Australia. Then, again, I may be taking up some of the Firm’s own companies, and bringing them through New Zealand on my own account. I may get some of the principals from the original productions to strengthen my present combination, say, in light opera.” Then will you permanently strengthen the “Pollards?” “Certainly. I have just made arrangements in that direction, hut I ein tell you more of that later on. Both the principals and the chorus are now being strengthened, more especially with male voices, and I have not yet completed the additions, so to speak.” What new pieces are you staging? “You know that wa have ‘La Poupee' and ‘ The Geisha ’ already in hand, and they will he followed by others in due course. I will begin with ‘La Poupee,’ which will be staged in Auckland on June 3, in Wellington at tbe end of July, and in Christchurch at Grand National time. Mr Lawrence, who put the piece on for the Firm, is leaving Sydney for New Zealand immediately, and he will superintend the production here.” How did you find matters theatrical in Australia, Mr Pollard? “ My stay was very brief, hut I managed to get down to Melbourne, where I saw ‘ The Belle of New York.’ It is a big comedy, and if it was not the success that was anticipated, that was duel entirely to the arrangement of the cast.. It is now to be staged in Sydney, and, with the alterations that have been made, it is sure to succeed. No, I hardly think I will bring it through New Zealand, but you may see the Firm’s own company here. Yes,” in answer to still another question, “I saw Bland Holt, with his ‘ Women and Wine.’ You will have that here, of course. As for the Broughs, lam not sure that, they are coming to New Zealand.” In the bustle of preparation before the curtain rose on “ Saucy Susie,” there was time for one last question: Was Mr Pollard losing any of his present principals? “ No,” came the answer, with a smile, Mr Pollard was not losing any of his present principals, at any rate this side of Christmas. After that, things would arrange themselves. There was just time to congratulate Mr' Pollard on his-success, and to express_a hope that his future operations would be even more successful than those of the past, and the curtain rose.