OPENING OF THE NEW THEATRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12147, 18 December 1902, Page 5

OPENING OF THE NEW THEATRE.

An important announcement is made this morning regarding the opening of Auckland's new place of amusement, namely, His Majesty's ; Theatre. This.elegant" theatre, which, it is asserted, will be one of the most luxurious, comfortable, and perfectly-ap-pointed theatres, in New Zealand, is f now rapidly approaching completion, and will be« opened on Friday ■ evening, December 26 (Boxing night), when the well-known Australian entrepreneur, Mr. J.* C. Williamson, will stage* - for the first time in Auckland the much-talked-of musical novelty, "A Runaway Girl." This musical play was first produced •at Mr. George Edwardos' London theatre (the Gaiety) in 1899, and scored such a success that it ran there for 21 consecutive months. Since then it has been transported to tho Continent and America, where many companies have been playing it with very satisfactory results. Its Australian record has also been very : brilliant, also in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. It was presented at Hei Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, for 12 consecutive weeks to crowded houses, the management stating that arrangements' which had been previously entered into alone compelled them to reluctantly withdraw it in the height of its popularity. ; In Sydney, at the Theatre Royal, it had a splendid run of eight weeks, and Adelaide followed suit with a two weeks' season — remarkably long run for any one piece in that city. The book of " A Runaway Girl" is" by Seymour Hicks and Harry Nicholls, lyrics by Harry Greenbank, and the music, which is said to be very catchy, by Lionel Monckton and Ivan Caryll. Apart from the production itself, the event will bo of great interest, inasmuch as it will mark the first appearance here of Mr., J. C. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company, consisting of a brilliant coterie of upwards of. 80 English and Australian operatic artistes, with a complete opera chorus, orchestra, and ballet. ' -