POLLARD'S OPERA COMPANY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11798, 30 July 1900, Page 6

POLLARD'S OPERA COMPANY.

The Princess Theatre was crowded in all p;.rls on Saturday afternoon, when " The Gondoliers " was repeated with every success. Tho large audience appeared io be delightc-d with the performance. When the management announced that the Dur.edin season would close with Pinafore," it was naturaliy anticipated that they would play to a big house, bu.t uo one couid have anticipated the tremendovis crush that actually prevailed, it was certainly the biggest house that has greeted the company since they played

"'The Belie of New i'ork" on "Contingent Night" prior to the departure of the fourth contingent for the war. i-iong before 8 o'clock the building was full, and, when everj seat was taken, the people pushed their way into tho aisles, and cheeffuily stood in the.passaged throughout tho performance, while many stood on chairs about the doors, and secured an occasional glimpse of the stage. Of the production of the piece iittle needs to be said. The performance as a whole must be regarded aa a good one, but it dragged a little towards the end, and there can be no doubt that six nights' performing a week ior nearly a- month, with a few maimees throw* in, is rather a severe strain on the company. Mr E. Nable, cast as Sir Joseph Porter, could hardly be said to have

exhausted the possibilities of the part, but he

made a good stage figure, and the audience wjs in a generous mood. Mr Percy as Captain Corcoran acted in his usual ihaahed and , thoroughly artistic manner, but he had to omit one of the songs allotted to the part. Mr Carter . as the love smitten tar, .Ralph Kackstraw,-. invested the part with a feeling and sincerity characteristic of his performances, and his . singing proved so acceptable to the audience that he was several times encored during the evening. Mr Quealy as Dick Deadeye' was responsible for a large share of the humour of the piece, but, as in one or two of his other ' characters, it is a pity at times that he cannot tad a more artistic way of bringing' it out. Miss May Beatty as Little Buttercup, gave genuine pleasure by her singing of " Little Buttercup," which had to be repeated in response to-an emphatic recall. Miss Daisy Davis took the part, of Josephine with con-, spicuous success, and was deservedly encored for her rendering of -Refrain, audacious tar."' Ihis lady was the recipient of a handsome basket of flowers during the evening. The sisters and the cousins and the aunts of Sir Joseph Porter were represented by a bevy of young ladies in a nautical costume, and the choruses were a feature of the performance. Between the first and second acts several members of the company appeared "in successian .to sing solos. ■ Miss Gertie Campion gave a delightful rendering cf the coon song •" Suaie-ue," and the audience, not satisfied with a repetition of the last verse, insisted on Miss Campion re-' turning a- third time, when she contented herself by bowing Jjer acknowledgments. Mr D.' O'Connor was heard to advantage in " The midshipmite," and was also rewarded with an encore. Mr Carter chose " The death of Nelsong," and sang this favourite song in excellent style. Miss Opie next appeared to'sing ||. Three little words," and as an encore gave d Because I love you so." Miss Opie was in splendid voice, and has never been heard to better advantage since she first appeared before a Dunedin audience. Mr Fitts chose a, patriotic song, and, clad in the uniform of the New Zealand Rough Riders, sang " Children of the Empire. ' Miss Eily Sullivan, a little mite, who looked very trim and smart, as a' midship- ■ mite in the opera, next appeared in -khaki, and sang The absent-minded beggar." Mr Percy also followed the patriotic lead, and sang " Sons of the sea." Miss May Beatty and Mr Quealy ■ did a music hall " turn." . Miss Boatty could • perhaps have chosen something better suited to herself, but the audience received her burlesque of cheap melodrama with unqualified approval. A word of praise should be bestowed on the dressing and mounting of the opera. The peformance concluded with the singing of " Rule Britannia," led by Mr Percy, the refrain of which was taken up by the full strength of the company, waving flat's. The scenery at the rear of the stage lifted,' disclos-' iag a beautiful tableau showing the figure representing Britannia, and two other figures on " each side represented New South Wales .Victoria, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The effect . produced was capital, and the curtain had to be raised two or three times before- the audience began to disperse. •