GARDNERS’ MUSICAL COMPANY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 577, 1 December 1897, Page 2

GARDNERS’ MUSICAL COMPANY.

Friday night.

The above company was advertised to appear in the Olympic Theatre some weeks ago, but owing to tbe splendid business it was doing in the large centres the country towns bad to wait. Our exchanges speak in the highest terms of the ability of each individual member of the company. The Hawera and Normanby Star speaks of the company’s appearance in Hawera as follows:—

The concert given at tlie Opera I House last evening was tbe best i heard in the Opera House for a long | time, a fact which the audience were ! not slow to recognise, fir almost every item on a long and varied programme was encored, and in some cases re-encored. Every member of the company is good in his or particular line, and ns a combination it would bo hard to beat. The most attractive items were those provided by Mr J. J. Gardner (violinist and Mr A \V. Joss tmandolinisti. The former proved himself to be complete master of his instrument, and was deservedly encored. In the item “Birds of the Forest ” especially his masterful manipulation was a treat to listen to. But for Mr Joss, who is an accomplished mandohnist, was reserved tho honors of the evening. The appreciation of tho at.dteuce seemed cxhauetless, and ho had to respond to a double encore on each appearance. The piccolo solos by Mr A. Gardner, and trombone solos by Mr Fred Gardner. were also really good, and were deservedly encored. Miss Ft-aton (contralto) proved to bo a vocalist of high order, and appeared to advantage in tho “Boys of the Old Brigade.”, and received an encore. A fault, however, in this and several other vocal items was that tho accompaniment was rather loud, lit the second part she sang “ King' s Own ” with credit. Miss tjanin (soprano) also contributed. Sbe. however, appeared to best advantage associated with Mr Curran in " i.ifos dream is o’er." which was exc.prionally good, as also were two duet* with Miss Keaton. “ Life's dream is o'er ” was a ran treat. Mr Thos. Curran is a good vocalist, his enunciation and lino declamatory power being almost pirfi-ot, lit l was . spe oially successful in “ Those wedding holla shall not ring out." His comic items were also exceptionally good. : Tho audience were not satisfied with ■ an encore for each item, and the singer bad to give a third before they ware satisfied.