COUNTRY NEWS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12411, 28 November 1908, Page 1

COUNTRY NEWS.

RICHMOND. (From Our Own Correspondent.) "The host yet produced in Richmond" was the linanimous opinion on Saturday evening last, when Gilbert and Sullivan's charming comic opera "The Goudoliers" was produced ? by the Richmond amateurs. The hall was packed to the doors, and the continual applause which greeted almost every item was evidence that the large audience thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Mr Wilmot, as the Duke of Plaza-Tora, was splendid, his fine voice and acting suiting the part to perfection. He was very successful in his solo "In Enterprise of Martial Kind," and also in the duets with the Duchess. "Luiz," the Duke's attendant, jvas entrusted to Mr A. Allport, \srho was very successful, his duet with Casilda receiving an encore. Mr Henderson, as Don Alhambra (the Grand inquisitor) was another very successful part, and his get-up and witty sayings brought down the house. His song "No possible doubt whatever" and "There Lived a King' both- received well-merited encores. Mr G. Francois as Marco, had a part that suited him.^and he received an encore for his song "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes," which was very nicely rendered, and he was also very successful in the various scenes with Gianetta and Guiseppe. Mr J. J. O'Connor as Guiseppe had little singing, but his acting was good, and dialogue amusing. As the "Duchess of Plaza-Tora," Miss F. Thomas was splendid ; 'her acting was graceful, and suited "Her .Grace" to perfection, while her duets with the Duko "With Ducal Pomp" and "Small Titles and Orders" both received well merited encores. Casilda (her daughter) was very successfully portrayed by Mrs W. May, and her duet with Luiz_ "There was a Tinie" deserves special mention. Mrs G. Baker, as Tersa, had a large part, which she very successfully performed, her acting right, through being very good, while she was also very successful with her solo "When a Merry Maiden Marries." Miss Thompson as Giavetta was also quite a success, her solo "Kind Sir You cannot have the Heart," her duet with Marco deserving special mention. The main characters were as follows :—"Antonio," Mr W. May ; "Francesco," Mr Barry; "Giorgio," Mr W. Wanstall;. ."Annebale," Mr Cameron; "Fiametta," Miss Price; "Vittoria," Miss Levy; "Guilia," Miss Ghallies; "Inez," Miss Pawson. Although only small parts in themselves, each added to the splendid success of the whole performance. A feature of the production was the handsome dresses. They were by far the most gorgeous we have yet seen, and in the second act when "They shall all equal be," the stage was ablaze of gold and silver trimmed dazzlinc; costumes. Special scenery was painted for the .production by Mr W. Wanstall, . tlio company's artist, and ho 'deperres. praise for the manner in which he executed his duties. The whole was, produced under the direction of Mrs May, which in ■- itself is a sufficient guarantee of completeness. The dancing throughout the perfomancfi was a treat, but this C»chucha danced by Misses E. Barry. W. Tasker, B. Meyer and "A. Holland deserves special mention. This item received | ji mo,s-fc vociferous encore, and tad to •bo repeated. Tho musical portion was under the able concluctorship of Mr Berryman, and the music was supplied by Mrs Hamilton (piano), Miss Kingslandv (violin), and Mr Kingsland ('cello), all of wfiom are j to be congratulated on their difficult task. The whole performance will bo repeated in tho Oddfellows' Hall, Richmond, on Thursday next, December 3rd.

A live Kiwi was discovered in a liimber yard in Masterton a few. mornings ago (says the Wairarapa "Daily Times). It was attacked by a dog j and killed before the employees were | aware of the species of the visitor, ! and naturally there were general regrets at the lost opportunity of qbj taining a specimen of natiVo bird life supposed to be almost oxtinefc. Ono of the employees has had the body stuffed and preserved. A Chicago paper recently instituted a prize, competition for the most original adverbisemerifc. Among some hundreds received was flic following : "Wanted.— Young man in gaol wants i to get out; suggestions solicited that« might result in immediate release ; wants poet's address who wrote, t 'S J «one walls do not a prison make, i nor iron bars a cage.'— Address, John. L. Siber, County Gaol." So tickled was the public by this original piece of composition that a number of readers began to make - inquiries in regard to the author, and as a result of tihe. movement the Governor of the State has actually been induced to grant the prisoner his release,