MR, HARRY RICKARDS' COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10970, 26 January 1899, Page 5

MR, HARRY RICKARDS' COMPANY.

That the variety entertainment provided by the Harry Richards' Company lias hit the popular taste is evidenced by the dense throngs that nightly fill the Opera House, " crowded to the doors" being the order again last evening, when the programme in which the company opened was repeated for the third time. From rise to fall of the curtain the attention of the onlooker _is riveted to the stage, not an item lacks interest, and not an artist is allowed to depart until lie or she has responded once, twice, even thrice, ill some cases, to the recall of the delighted audience. It is only once in a —unless Mr. Richards returns again —that the amusement-seekers of Auckland are afforded an opportunity of witnessing a variety entertainment such as is provided by the clever aggregation of star artists brought across by the popular Sydney manager, and they are evidently bent upon making the most of it ; they are going to have their fill. The versatile Rickards, ventriloquist Winton, Ugo Biondi (the marvellously clever lightning change artist), the sprightly Miss Lottie Moore, Mr. Bellman (the charming operatic vocalist)* Miss Clara Llewelyn, and the eccentric patter and dancing comedians Messrs. Foreman and Fannan, all contribute to the large measure of success that is attending the company's appearance, and will continue to do so until the end of the season. A change of programme is announced for this evening, when Mr. Rickards will introduce several of the choicest gems from his extensive repertoire. Albert Bellman and Lottie Moore will present a new musical terpsichorean sketch, entitled "A Lesson in Acting," and several other novel itenjs will be produced. A matinee performance will be given on Saturday afternoon, at half-past two.