ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8508, 7 March 1891, Page 5

ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

Those playgoers who thought that the repertoire of the Fun on the Bristol Company had been exhausted were agreeably surprised last night when they witnessed the production of "Bridget O'Brien, Esq.," at the Opera House. It is on the same lines as, 1 and is a sequel to, " Fun on the Bristol," but it is even better than that classical piece. Indeed, it is the best performance yet given by the company. _ If consists of a charming light comedy, interspersed with a number of entirely new songs and dances. The two scenes are pleasing, and the dresses «are as fresh and pretty as one could desire. John F. Sheridan is, of course, the soul of the piece. The audience burst into roars of laughter the moment the familiar figure of the much widowed widow appeared on the stage, and the merriment was continuous till the curtain fell. It would indeed be a melancholy man who could keep a sober face while listening to the widow's flippant retorts, her droll sallies, and watching her sublimely funny by-play. The first act opens in the house of Richard Sparks, who, alter running away with Dora in the Bristol, has now married her, and is settled in Chicago. As to the mother-in-law of this happy couple, the Widow has unlimited scope of showing off her little eccentricities, and she made the audience laugh till their sides ached. The _ other characters are similar to those in the " Fun on the Bristol." Miss Whiteford, as Norah, is a familiar and pleasing figure, and so is Miss Stella Tudor as Mrs. Richard Sparks. As Araminta Sparks, the mother of Mr. Sparks, Miss Lome was successful, both in make-up and acting. It may be mentioned that the members of the company seem to have taken considerable care in dressing and making-up appropriately, and this adds materially to the success of the performance. Miss Alice Austin made a pleasant and attractive servant, "Rose." Mr. Burton Royle was very happily cast for the part of Richard Sparks. He filled it admirably. Mr. Royle, by the way, is a poet as well as an actor, and a number of the songs given last evening, as well as on previous occasions, come from his pen. They show decided talent in versification, and in some cases considerable poetic feeling. The music to which they are set is by Mr. Robertson, the conductor. Benjamin Brewster (a mining shark) found a clever interpreter in Mr. Imauo ; while the characters of Major Tiffen, of the noble Six Hundred, and Charley Bleater, an English "swell," were excellently performed by Messrs. James and Carr. Messrs. Chas. and William Bo vis, J. Tudor, J. Ericksen, and W. Dalgliesh had minor parts. Act 11. is a moonlight garden scene, and it is in this act that most of the incidental songs .and dances are introduced. In the first act are two excellent songs, written by Mr. Royle. The first, a duet, "Life's Mighty Ocean,"sung by Miss Whiteford and Mr. Carr, was loudly applauded, as was also the second song, "Bright Little Glass," sung by Mr. Sheridan. The second act opens with a very beautiful Lawn Tennis Vocal Ballet, in which Misses Arline, Trigge, Wiseman, Austin, White Sisters (3), Livingstone, Fraser, Royle, ' and the Williams Sisters take part. " The Military Man," another song from i the pens of Messrs. Royle and Robert- | son, was excellently sung by Mr. James. Miss Lome sung with much feeling and expression the song, " Be Sure You Call As You Pass By," and bowed her acknowledgments in response to an encore. Miss Gracie Whiteford won much applause by her rendering of "Fiddle and I." She was dressed very prettily as an Italian street boy. A " Pas de Quatre" by Misses Trigge, Williams, and White sisters was a charming bit of dancing. "So I Have Thee," by Mr. Imano, was another sons' which was warmly received by the audience. An at* tractive item was the English stick dance, with character changes by Miss and Mr. Tudor. Perhaps the best number of the performance was " Love's Sweet Song," sung by Miss Lome and Messrs. Imano and Carr. Miss Arline's banjo playing is always verypopular, and her performanceof the Turkish Patrol" met with an encore, in response to which she gave " Home, Sweet Home" with variations. Miss Whiteford and Mr. Sheridan contributed one of the funniest items in the shape of a duet, " Johnny Jones and His Sister Sue." It created great laughter. Messrs. C. and W. Bovis gave a song and dance " Dora, I Love You" very acceptably, and another pretty ballet brought an excellent entertainment to a close. The company leave for Sydney on Tuesday, so to-night and Monday evening are the only opportunities which theatre-goers ' will have of witnessing " Bridget O'Brien, Esq." It is well worth a visit, and is a sure specific for the blues.