OPERA HOUSE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVIII, Issue 12934, 30 September 1902, Page 5

OPERA HOUSE.

RICKARDS'S VARIETY COMPANY. There was an excellent attendance at the Opera House last night, when Rickards's Star Comany of vaudeville artists opened a short season in Christchurch, by arrangement with Mr P. R. Dix. The variety business has lately been so vigorously exploited in the colony that it takes eu combination of more than ordinary parts to now please the ever-increasing army of local critics, and that last night's audience should have come away thoroughly satisfied, was in itself initial evidence that the present company is exceptionally clever. The combination possesses no star of the same order as Cinquevalli, who was the central attraction in Mr Rickards's last New Zealand company ; but it has, instead, quite a number of individual turns which stand out as conspicuously meritorious. Mr Barney Fagan and Miss Henrietta Byron, who are billed-with a wealth of/' pTotean" superlatives of more or less appositeness, supply a brisk and crisp little Wurletta, thorougly American in character, which gives opportunity for some smart duologue, some chio and effective singing and dancing, and a quite dazzling display of Parisian l frocks and "frillies." The Jackson Family, four in number, of equally assorted' sexes, are re s sponsible for a musical turn, which is- one of the best of its kind. It appears to be a matter of entire indifference to the performers what instruments are put into their hands, for they perform equally well, apparently, with any. The banjo work was, however, perhaps the best, and the audience grew quite enthusiastic over a Scotoh medley, in which they figured' largely with the side drum and piccolo. A piccolo solo by one of the ladies of the quartette was also specially good. Another-"star" turn was that of Derenda. and Breen, club swingr ers and jugglers, and this clever itemi is undoubtedly tihe best of its kind ever,seen. in. tihe colonies. It is "out by itself" in general excellence, whilst the humorous work of the "casual" member of the duet is immensely funny. The act is quite legitimatelv billed as a remarkable one. Mr J. "W. Winton has been heard in Christchurch before, and' his clever ventriloquial act has lost nothing in the interval; indeed it is fresher and more irresistible than ever. Miss Neva Carr-Glyn, who has a capital contralto voice, sang several ballads tastefully and expressively, and Miss Jennie Opie, an old favourite, also contributed acceptable vocal items, although she was obviously suffering from a severe cold. The Clarence Sisters lent variety to the proceedings by the'customary sonbrette song and dance work, and the entertainment was concluded by the display of a series of very fine pictures, shown by a new American bioscope —quite the best of the kind yet shown in Christchurch. The whole entertainment was crisp, clean and sparkling, and it compared more than favourably with any recently seen here. It will be repeated this evening. ■