OPERA HOUSE.

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 November 1901, Page 2

OPERA HOUSE.

"RIP VAN WINKLE" ON FRIDAY EVENING NEXT.

The revival of that bright and tuneful opera, ''Rh> Van Winkle, at the Opera House on 1 riday evening next will tend to awaken slumbering memories of its recent performance here by the members of the Wanganui Amateur Musical and Dramatic Association. Apart from the merits of the particular play under notice there are other reasons why this local association should command practical support from the public. It cannot be gainsaid that from a musical and dramatic point of view it has been and continues to be an educator to a large number of people, providing them with healthy amusement combined with instruction, e'speoially during tne long winter evenings. It should also be remembered that in staging the various pieces the expense entailed means the circulation locally of considerable sums of money from time to time, a large amount of such expense being cheerfully borne by the members themselves. This might be remarked, further: that the various productions are staged in a most complete manner, and, in contradistinction to some of the professional travelling companies which appear in our midst, absolute faith is kept with the public, thus ensuring thorough satisfaction. As to the merits of "Rip"—the opera under notice—there can be no doubt is to its excellence, and, whilst it will be

•;iven on Friday .evening in its entirety, as previously,, yet through better acquaintance with the details' of stage management, the length of the different acts will be very much curtailed. The box office is now open at Messrs H. I. Jones and Son's, besides which tickets are on sale at the leading hotels, the music warehouses, and ••he tobacconists' throughout the town. We trust that a bumper house will result.

A full rehearsal will be held in the Opera House this evening.