ROYAL BURLESQUE OPERA COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10046, 5 February 1896, Page 5

ROYAL BURLESQUE OPERA COMPANY.

The Burlesque Company, under the management of Mr. Peroy Sb. John, gave their third change of programme at the Opera House 'ash night, when they staged the burlesque "Blue-eyed Susan." On the whole there were sufficient shreds of the well-known nautical drama to show that it formed the basis but it afforded an outlet for a great deal of genuine fun and merriment as well as opportunities for exceptional character displays, and singing and dancing. The staging and dressing were effective, and so far as the characters were concornod thoy wore admirable caricatures. The principal r&lea were those of Susan, by Miss Ada Lempriore; Williams, Miss Bel Ponsonby; Damo Hatloy, Mr. Fred Cambourno } and Doggrusa, Mr. Will Stevens, and these supported by the other members supplied a choice olla pdrida of music, dancing, burlesque, and humour, which kept the audience dolighted. Little Addle Favarb in her child songs and admirable dancing again earned for herself roars of applause. The ballets wore excellent) spoolmens of the class of art to which this department has been brought by the aid of areas and limeiighb effects) and the ladies of the ballet (are in their department equal to the great calls upon them during the performanco. In the opening of the second act they were particularly picturesque in the Primrose ballot, The varied musical selections of the PiirAgOn trio, the vocal eccentricities of Mr. Will Stevens, the wonderful imitations of animal and bird voices in his speoial act by Mr. Cambourne were features of oxoeptioual merit, and the admirable singing of Miss Dora Buuoh and Mist Blanche Wilmob added largely to the success of the entortainment. The tableau "Britannia," which brought thd entertainment to a close, wat very effective, and the whole performance merited the warm applause which ib received, and whioh was shown by the faob thab re-oalls were so frequent thab the performance was almost duplicated. "Blue-eyed Susan" will be withdrawn after Thursday night, and on Friday 41 Faust" will be substituted. As a matinee on Saturday " Cinderella," which provod such a success recently, will be repeated,