ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14139, 19 February 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

■ “MISS:HOOK’-OF- HOLLAND.” As this world-famed Dutch musical play, in which Pollard’s Opera 1 Company will renew acquaintance with local playgoers "on Thursday night, is entirely new hero, tho following particulars regarding it may prove interesting:—lt was originally produced at tho Prince of AValos Theatre, Loudon, where it drew crowded houses for over two years, and was only -withdrawn owing to the termination of the lease. At one, time it was being toured in the English provinces by no loss than twenty companies, while in 'America, double that number were exploiting it. Tho Australasian rights wore scoured by tho firm of Sir Rupert Clarke, Meynoll ami Gunn, and it was first produced by them at their theatre in Melbourne. This bouse seats 2500 people, but for twenty-six weeks it was a nightly occurrence for people to bo turned away. History repeated itself at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, where it had- a phenomenal run of twenty-four weeks. There must be something exceptionally catching in a piece that can put up records like these. The music is said to bo alluringly bright ami tuneful, and so little “classical” that the listener can clearly catch the words of the songs and choruses. The score is light—something to please for a night and a day—hut it is claimed much of it is good enough to haunt the memory, for mure than nine days. The quaint Dutch ' settings, with tho traditional windmills, wooden shoes, cheeses, baggy trousers, and various medleys of the sublime and the ridiculous will, it is claimed, come upon playgoers as a welcome change Irony the majority of modern musical comedies. THE SHACKLETON .PICTURES. There was a fair attendance at the Recreation Snorts Grounds last night, when the Slmckloton Picture Company submitted its second programme. The ■various incidents of tho dash to tho Pole were followed with i a groat deal of interest by tho spectators, who gleaned some idea of tho hardships and trials undergone by the explorers. Tho miscellaneous pictures were of exceptional merit. Tho entertainment all through was an excellenb'one, and well worth seeing.