Opera House.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11741, 19 September 1902, Page 2

Opera House.

"THE MESSENGER BOY."

The Pollard revivals are invariably popular, always successful, and, seemingly, ever welcome. In matters1 theatrical, Mr. Pollard's combination affords a lively orntradiction to the old saying that a prophet is despised in his own country.. The Pollards are an essentia'ly colonial awd particularly a New Zealand combinat'.on, yet every time they visit us they *'£t-i right there." Last night th* -l tract ioi> •waa "The Messenger Boy"—billed as thf greatest of all London Gaiety successes" —and "Tommy Bang" certain v had no cause to" frown at his rec^j tion. The Opera House was crammed in every pari, and late arrivals—whether nty touvht tut \ circle, the stalls, m* the pit—had to y. content with standins: rcom cnly. Ho far as musio is co;i*or»i*d, "The Messenger Boy," is, if anything, but poorly endowed. Thei© are, it is true, a few pretty sow*1, arod here and there a catchy chorus ; but on the whole the music of the new piece is but poor stuff' compared to that of some <rf the <*lder genus in the Pollard repertoire. The success of -the "Boy" is, largely, due to the irrepressible and irresistible "Tommy Bang" himself, added by some half-a-dozen other i..- - makers. But for them1 and their efforts there would be but. little in the composition to raise it above the level of mere musical buffoonery, and certainly notliimp to stamp it as a first-class moneymaker. Mr. Pollard', however, cannot be "held responsible for the weakness of the play. He, like His patron*?, had to rely to a large extent on reputation, and reputation is not always reliable. Sot far as staging is concerned, there was nothing •wanting in last night's (production. The dresses—those worn by the ladies especially—were rich and varied; the scenic effects were excellent; and the perform--*--ers made the most of the material upon which tihey hadl to work. Mr. W. S. Percy, as "Tommy Bang," was a host in himself, and his every appearance was the signal for hearty laughter. He was ably supported by Messrs. C. Carter. J. Ralston, J. O'SuUivan, H. Quealy, G. Young, D. O'Connor, A. Stephens, C. Vaughan, and C. Albert, and Misses Connie Buttel, Alice Edgar, Nellie Wilson, Alice Pollard, Nina Osborne, Wilmbot Karkeek, •and Gertie Campion, the latter, if anything, brighter and more vivacious than when she first captivated local patrons as the "Gay Pa-risienne." To-night "PATIENCE," an opera well known to local theatregoers, is to fill tihe bill. "Bunthorne's Bride" and her rapturous maidens, with their gallant soldier lovers, are bound to attract another bumper house this*, evening. - ..