Pollard's Opera Company.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8618, 24 March 1897, Page 2

Pollard's Opera Company.

"RIP VAN WINKLE."

The above comic opera was staged last evening, and we may say at the outset that taken as a whole the performance was a marked success. The staging of the opera,' the dresses, the scenery and mechanical effects were evidently the result of careful study on the part of Mr Tom Pollard, who in this, as well as in all the other operas produced, displayed a keen appreciation of the composer's and author's meanings by the carefulness observed in the production even down to the smallest detail. The choruses were excellently sung, the solos and trios well rendered, and the tuneful music faithfully interpreted by the orchestra. Coming to the individual merits of the performers, and commencing with the ladies, attention must, of course, be first directed to the acting and singing of Gretchen (Rip's wife). Miss Emily Metcalfe made the most of the part,

and her rendition of the solos apportioned to her was most praiseworthy. Nick Vedder's daughter, Katrina found a most able and pleasing representative in Miss May Beatty, who sang her numbers without the slightest effort and acted in such a graceful manner that it is no wonder that Knickerbocker fell under the spell of her undoubtedly charming presence. Unresponsive indeed must be the heart that could remained unquickened when subject to such a powerful and pleasing fascination! Miss Nellie Wilson waa allotted the part of Captain Rowley (of the British Army), aud fulfilled her task conscientiously. It is, perhaps, fortunate that army officers, a*, a rule, do not posssess such maguetitfjpower ac that displayed by Miss for, otherwise their conquests' females who " dote on the miliigtary,"

would be even more numerous than they are generally supposed to be—and that is saying a great deal. As Hip's daughter, little Eily O'Sullivan was a conspicuous success, her voice blending sweetly Ttith Hip's in the trio with the hero and her betrothed, Hans Yon Slous (Master A. Stovons). Coming next to the male parts, the palm must be awarded equally between Mr E. Nabl© and Mr A. Stevens, who took the parts of Nick ' Vedder (landlord of the village inn) and Eip Van Winkle, res ectively. Their acting was throughout excellent, and loft nothing to be desired. Eip sang his numbers well, and was frequently applauded. His impersonation of the schnapps loving ne'or-do-weel could hardly be excelled, and was evidently the result of careful study. If any fault could be found, it would have to be in the third act, when he showed a tendency to burlesque a part already sufficiently light. But this is after all a good, rather than a badiault, as it is generally better for an actor to err on the side of levity than otherwise. Mr W. S. Percy took the part of the crafty lawyer, Derrick Yon Slous, and is to be congratulated upon the measure of success he achieved. Mr George Young made a capable Burgomaster, and Mr Harry Quealy played the village schoolmaster. The latter's terpsichorean efforts in the first act wore much appreciated by the spectators.

In the second act (the Kaatakills) ] the scenery and effects were wort appropriate and weird. The phantom crew, under Captain Hudson (Miss M. Hewson) acted and sang well. The goblin dwarf found a good substitute in Master C. Albert, and Miss Lily Everett danced a charmingly graceful pas de seul. We must not omit to mention that Miss Maud Boatty appeared in the third act as Hans Yon Slous (of the U.S. nary). It is superfluous to say that she did full justice to the part. Miss Beatty's conscientious discharge of any duty assigned to her is so well known that eulogy is unnecessary, though she invariably deserves praise. In conclusion, we may say, as we did at the commencement, that the performance was a success from the rise to the falfof the curtain, and the audience should have been well pleased with the company's efforts.

This evening "Paul Jones" will be staged.