By Pendennis.

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1177, 20 July 1901, Page 5

By Pendennis.

It is so Beldom that we have a chance in Auckland of bearing grand opera, and so many yetfn have elapsed since a really oapable grand opera company visited as, that big business for the Masgrove Company was a foregone conclusion. The company opened on Monday evening in 1 11 Trovatore,' to a crowded boose, every available iooh of sitting and standing room being occupied. So also on Tuesday night, when * Fauat ' was produced, the attendance being a phenomenal one, and even the passages being packed with eager listeners. Certainly, the conditions are

not the most comfortable or pleasurable for an evening's amusement, bnt the venture baa been an expensive one for the management, and it la only natural that they should be anxious to recoup their outlay, even at the expense of the comfort of their patrons. Without doubt, the computy la a splendid one. Ita strength, however, lies more In numerioal force than in any exceptional individual talent or Qapaotty on the put of the principals. It la a verylarge company, with a Strong ohoras and s»n effective orchestra, and is able from its vast resources iocbange^be artistes in the east from niffbl to night. Thto io itaelf f urnUhes attcaetive variety. So far as the solo singing- c;oes, the lad/ artistes are first-lass, but the men, with the exoeptlpn of Mr Prlngle, are- disappointing. The company dees not appear to posseas a tenor anything like at good aa William Walahe, so well-known here. On the other hand, however, Madsme Slapoffaki, Madame Janaon, and Miss Lilian Ooomber are all good, and their cultured and artistic vooalism delighted their listeners.

Though the company la a capital one, It Boffara in point of wee***; like the 1 greatert efoeaa th* world has ever teen,' from over-boomibg. The pabUo have been led to expect aomethiag phenomenal, and thongh the performatooee have been above the atandard of average merit, many of the who rashed t6 book seats for ano oessive nigfais at high pricea, or who travelled long diatanoes from the country to ace the company, are diaapppinteil. Bat this la dnly haman nature, after all.

The Haytor boom at the City ia atill going merrily. On $atarday theae olevnr people gave a new act, whiob, like tbe former, anppltee the dialogue that leads up to their real basineaa. Their oaperlngs, acrobatic work, oontortionielng, and fnoayiama were m much in evidence as ever, and the aodleoee let itaelfgo with a oontinnona ring of laughter. The Haytora are quick and hUariona They never lose a moment, and their speech and! action are simply irresistible. Miae Mollie Benley, the fealladiat, re-appeared after an ftbsenoe of a good many months, on Monday night, and I don't know Of any reception at the Gaiety that had a more" cordial ring than the one that was given her. Miss B^ntley retaina to the fall all her sweetness of voice and power of ezpreesion, and her items are amoog the gems of the evening.

Frank Yorke, in his irrepressible way, has naooh to nr and many things to sine ■.boot, and be aho does a step or two, and never fails to give ' a little extra for the girls,' all of which amuses the hoose, and makes it laugh delightedly. Little Alma Gray, in her coon and other turns, is still a big iavonrite, and h sore to remain so while her season lasts. George Dean, in hi* descriptive songs, has caught on and is brought back every time, while ' Jim ' Marion tarns oh the fan-tern and never fails to 'fetch.' Miss Emmie Owen, the forcible linger of patriotic and other songs, le hard- worked with encores, and Misses Bthel Gwynne and Annetta Bodln, In their reapeotive lines, are doing splendidly. . Johnny Collins and Karl Browne complete the list, and help along the show immensely^ Messrs Parkyns and Bromley, the clever drawing-room entertainers, were unfortunate regarding the weather. Daring their short teMon at the Opera Hoase Jtialned almost incessantly, which prevented many from attending who would otherwise have gone. Their show was

redly mod. Mr Parkyns is a" mjmfe who I»m had. few rivals in: thlt oolony, *ad ta pathetic or ootnie piece* be, is equally at fcoine. Be bh a repertoire of tome eighty or ninety songs and reoitatlofca, by the beat authors, and embracing every phace of character. Of these he g»v« no leu th»n fiseen evuy nigbt, eaob y^nlring dflerent handJirg f rom th& iaot of it* being enticely -d>ffr rent from the reat. Like a tree arti-t, be iorgetf that he i« Parkyna, and ia really f<& the tnomenfc the old EogUsh roatic or the howling Amerioan swell, or whichever character he happens to bi impersonating. Mr Bromley Is a platform vocalist of high ability. He slog*, to hit own aeoompanU ment and in a rich tenor voice, some of the very beat ballads and operatic gems, and reaches the higher register without any diffionlty. It was unfortunate the weather Has so much agalnßt them. The Liedertaftl announce a highly attractive concert for to moirow (Friday) night, at the Choral Hall. Two vocalists of very high repute wili take part, namely, Mr Philip Newbury (who sang, by command, before His Royal Higness, King E 4 ward VII , and also at the State concert in Sydney to the Dnke of York), and Madame Bpada, h gifted and highly-trained soprano. The Liedertafel will also contrionte. There should be a crowded house.