Pollard's Opera Company.

Colonist, Volume XLI, Issue 9264, 31 August 1898, Page 2

Pollard's Opera Company.

"IN TOWN." There was a full .house at tka Theatre las,t nighjt to Witness the iirat production in N^ledn of the musical comedy " In Town," and the performance was a really goad one, the audience giving abundant evidence of appreciation throughout. The comedy is based npon the coming to town of the Duke of Muffshire, his wife, son, daughter, and chaplain. The son meets in with an old Oxford acquaintance, Captain Coddington, a man about town, who undertakes to show his young friend aboutl and this includes a visit behind the scenes of the Ambiguity Theatre, where is engaged one Mis 3 Belleville, a French dancer of whom the youag Lsrd Clanside is enamoured. The Duke, who had come to town to make a speech is the House of Lords, also makes Coddington's acquaintance, and obtains his GerviOfi to gain admission to the green room! of the Ambiguity for the purpose, of <m£etiag the prima donna and making some for her dismissal by the Duchess from the post of governess, which she Jhad formerly held in the Muffshire househeli—th* Duke being not unconnected in the m&Qjpf the Duchess as a reason for the dismissal. At the Hotel Caravanserai, where the family were staying, and where these meetings all took place, Lady Gwendoline Kincaddie, the daughter, met her old preceptress and arranged to visit her friend behind the scenes. The consequence is that father and son meet in the green room while the daughter becomes the inmate of her friend's dressbg room, the Rev. Samuel Hopkins turns up in search of Capt. Coddington, and finally the Duchess appears in search of the others. The document in charge of the chaplain for the impecunious happy-go-lucky Captain Coddington, proves . to contain news of a legaoy which will place him in a position of comfort and enable him to marry the prima donna, to whom he is affianced. Clanside claims Miss Belleville and the Rev. Samuel takes charge of Lady Gwendoline, and the curtain rings down on matters happily arranged in approved style. The music forms no great part of the performance, but there is sufficient to provide pleasing variety, while the dialogue is bright and the fun genuine, so that laughter reigned from start to finish. The demands upon the principal performers were unequal, but, without exception, the parts were more than creditably taken in the case of those who had the most to do, derided success was achieved. Miss Marion Mitchell as " Kitty Hetherton, the prima donna of the Ambiguity," acted and sang brightly, the balcony scene with Captain Coddington, being most appreciated. Miss Maud Beatty made a dashing young man as " Lord Clanside," and acted the part surprisingly well. Miss S. Metoalfe made a fair Duchess of Muffshire, and the same may be said of Miss L. Stephens as Lady Gwendoline Eincaddie, her daughter. The duet between these two " The Happy Golden Mean " was very well received. Miss May Beatty was a vivacious Frenchwoman as Marie Belleville, and made a success of her part. The dancing of Misses Wilmot Earkeek, Nellie Wilson, and Nellie Forde may also be mentioned. Of the male characters pride of place must be given to Mr W. S. Percy who had a long part to sustain as Captain Arthur Coddington, and he was 'capital throughout. In the balcony scene with Eitty Hetherton, the trio with Clanside and t*e Chaplain, "The Harmless Tarradidile," and in his song with dumb action, " This Way and That Way," he scored great successes. The Cuke of Muffshire, Mr Alf Stephens, was another capitally sustained character, his acting and singing being consistently good. The same remarks apply to Mr H. Quealy, who played the Rev Samuel Hopkins, and Master C. Albert, " The Shrimp." Both these actors seem to be made for the parts allotted to them, and no small proportion of the laughter raised was due to their efforts. The minor ohar&etera were also creditably filled. Mr Ernest Fitts sang "The Yeoman's Wedding Song" in good voice, and received a recall. To-night, by request, "Paul Jones" will be staged, and this tuneful and popular opera should ensure another large audience.