MUSGROVE’S OPERA COMPANY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12590, 27 August 1901, Page 5

MUSGROVE’S OPERA COMPANY.

[From Our Correspondent.] " WELLINGTON, August 26. The popularity of Musgrove’s Opera Company shows no signs of diminishing, and although the season here extends over nineteen nights the bookings right up to the closing performance are heavy. The Governor and the Countess of Ranfurly pay their first visits this week, and 1 , by vioe-Regal command, “ Carmen ” and “ Lohengrin ” are to ‘be staged for. the third time. The Mapourika has been specially chattered to take the company to Lyttei<4odraad will leave here at midnight : on 'Saturday.

'THE OPENING OF THE PLANS

The box-plans for the Musgrove company’s operatic season will open to-mor-row, at 9 a.m. sharp, at Messrs Milner and Thompson’s. In anticipation of a great rush for tickets, Herr Schercb, Mr Musgrove’s representative, has made preparations for putting into operation a scheme by which, the public convenience will be met, and patrons will receive the fairest possible treatment, oh the principle of. “first come, first served.” The company will play for twelve nights (commencing on Monday next), and twelve plans, each plan representing one night, will be displayed on on© long table. There will be separate attendants for each table. The public will pass in in single file in front of the plans, and select their seats with comfort, ease, and ho delay or bother. The scheme will be worked as perfectly as possible, and, in order to bring this about, a rehearsal of .trained attendants” will be held. The public, oa their part, however, are expected to assist in a small particular. They are requested to, if possible, have the exactsum of money ready for each plan on which they secure seats. It has often happened hitherto that applications for tickets have been senib by letter, or through the telephone, before the time of opening. Such applications in this instance will be* unavailing, as absolutely no seats, except those reserved for the Press, will be marked off before the plans open at 9 a.m. “Everybody,” says Herr Scherek, “shall have a fair chance -to secure good seats.” There was a dress rehearsal yesterday afternoon, at Messrs Milner and Thompson’s,, of the box-plan booking for the Opera'eeason, .which will begin, in desperate earnest at nine o’clock to-morrow morning, The preparations axe somewhat formidable, though 'they promise -to be decidedly effective, and iMr Musgrove’s energetic representative, Herr, ‘Benno Scherek, whose cheerful optimism sees visions of surging thousands in Manchester Street at 5 a.m., has certainly left no stone unturned 1 -to ensure prompt ’ and comfortable booking. The plans for the first six nights, each in charge of a separate attendant, are laid out upon a counter to which access, is gained only by a railed-off -passage through wMch bookers can only pass" en queue. Two placards in shrieking capitals at the entrance of “the race” request people to have ready the exact money for each set of seats, and to be. careful that their tickets are marked for the right days, and a compliance with these requests will certainly, facilitate the booking. At the far end of the passage exit is effected by the side door, and the stop-watch being put- upon Herr Scherek while he took varying numbers cf tickets for each night and displayed a truly marvellous appreciation of the changeableness affld argumentativeness of the average seat-booker, showed him to- complete the whole distance in Bmin 155e0., a time which it is estimated will be .well over the average. Suggestions that he should secure the services of Mr Piper andi start the crowd with the tapes, add a dip at the end of his “ race,” and secure the services of -a brass band outside to play “All We Like Sheep ” were received with a proper contempt, and an invitation to point out any flaws in Ids arrangement came back marked “clean target.” The programme for the first week* of the season is now announced. “II Tro-va-tore” will bo the opening opera, and it will be followed by “Faust,” “Carmen” and " Lohengrin ” in that order, after which will come revivals of “ Lohengrin ” and “ Faust,”