Pollard's Liliputian Company.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4740, 4 September 1893, Page 1

Pollard's Liliputian Company.

There wa9 another good house at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening, when the Pollard Liliputian Opera Company repeated the Princess of Trebizonde. The piece was again well received, and a number of encores had to be responded to. This evening the company will tender a benefit to Miss Maud Beatty. Miea Beatty joined the Pollard Company on its visit here two years ago, and since that time has made great progress in her profession. The piece chosen is Slaughter's comiceatirical opera, An Adamless Eden, or Woman's Franc/use. The libretto is by Mr H. Saville Clark, and the music by Mr Slaughter. The scene is laid in the Isle of Eden, where women, so long down-trodden, decide to rebel, and after ejecting the male sex from the ißland assume the reins of government. The Duchess of Breeka is appointed Viceroy, and in the opening scene the Parliament is sitting discussing the vital question &b to how they shall withstand an invasion of men with which they are threatened. At this time one Peter Blobbs assumes the disguise of a pilgrim, and visits the isle to look for an old sweetheart. Just as he has found her they are surprised by the Attorney-General, who suspects his identity, and immediately informs the Viceroy, who calls upon Peter for an explanation. This he gives, freely interlarded with osculatory embellishments. The explanation proves so satisfactory that Peter departs with instructions to return with two more pilgrims, one for the Viceroy and one for the Chief Secretary. These gentlemen are smuggled into the island, and are detected by the Attorney-General while in company with the ladies for whom they have been imported. The Attor-ney-General is silenced by the promise that a pilgrim shall be procured for her also. At this interesting stage the longthreatened invasion of the male sex takes place, and when called upon to defend their rights the whole army mutinies, and Adam is again admitted into Eden. The opera will be preceded by the second act of The Gondoliers. This will be the last chance of seeing the juveniles during the present season, as they open in Ashburton in La Mascotte to-morrow evening.