COOPER'S OPERASCOPE CO.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9018, 18 March 1908, Page 5

COOPER'S OPERASCOPE CO.

A new American invention, the Operascope, was exhibited at the Town Hall, last night, under the management of Mr 0. Cooper, to a very large audience. Since the old magic lantern was superseded by the perfected apparatus of Lumioro for showing auimatod pictures, inauy instruments have been made in the form of cine-, matographs, bioscopes, biographs, and other similar instruments; but for absolute perfection of finish aud clearness in displaying the pictures, the Operascope is far ahead of its predecessors. Mr A. Coopor, who manipulated the instrument, is apparently a believer in rapidity of change; and ouo of the chief sources of the success achieved last night was that there was no time wasted, so that innumerable tableaux were brought forward in continuous succession, The pictures were displayed ou an unusually largo scale, and with an entire absence of flicker, which left nothing to be desired. The series of scenes from Gilbert aud SvUUvnu's opera, "Mikado," some of wliicli were beautifully coloured, was simply perfection. The animated effect of these was considerably heightened by the accompanying songj ou the grapliophoue, by specially prepared records, which were rendered in admirable time with the actions of the artists as depicted ou the screen. The "Alice in Wonderland" series was most enjoyable, especially to the younger element in the audience, whilothe older and more grave section indulged in unanimous laughter at the marvellous adventures of a cyclist depicted in "His First Ride," and of "Jim" passing through the course of many apprenticeships. The illusion pictures of "Living Flowers" were beautiful exhibitions of the pantomime producer's art, whilst "Liquid Electricity" provoked unbounded mirth at the manner in which lackadaisical workmeu quickiy assumed stupendous energy when sprinkled with the fluid. A little of this marvellous fluid injected into the Borough workmen would have the eli'oct of seeing the tar macadamising of the strc-ets of the whole towu accomplished in about one hour. The picture part of the programme is interspersed with songs by Miss Louie Fisher, and a sketch in which Miss Fisher aud Mr Hugh Wilson appear. Last night Miss Fisher, who possesses a sweet mezzo-soprauo voice,rendered" Dreaming" iv a Voi'-y and was accorded an umleuiablo eucore, for which she responded with the appropriate song, "Killaruey," which called forth rapturous applause. Miss Fisher was accompanied in her songs by Miss Winnie Jones, of Masterton, who also played portions of the incidental music iv a very accomplished style.. Undoubtedly the star item of the programme was the highly amusing comedy, "Two of a Kind," written by Mr H. Wilson, and interpreted by Miss L. Fisher aud the author. The theme is wrapped round the innocent deceptions of man and wife, and fcho culminating point is readied when the husband, who thinks he is about to meet his wife's lover, "Sammy," is introduced to a pretty little dog of that name, which the lady has kept unknown to her husband. The whole sketch bristles with .rollicking fnu, which is made the most of by tlie.se two versatile artists.

A matinee is being hold this afternoon ; aud to-night, with tho exception of three pictures, a complete chauge of programme will be given, including "Shamus O'Brien" and the great cowboy picture, "The Girl from Moutana.''