AMUSEMENTS. MEETINGS. ETC

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11476, 6 February 1905, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS. MEETINGS. ETC

HP. GEORGE STEPHENSONS ENG-

LISH OPERA CO3IPANI.

Tho interest already evinced in the forthcoming appearance of Mr Geo. Stephenson's famous English Musical Comply Company promises to imbue Wanganui playgc&rs with more than tho ordinary excitement usually associated with the advent of a popular combination, whose merits have boea enthusiastically comnr.^n-t-nl on through the columns ot the English and Australian Prees. Mr Stephenson's company will open on Friday evouing next, at the Op^ra House in tho "Roso of tho Riviera," a inimical pkay which has attained a' remarkable popularity throughout Engia'hd', and the Commonwealth. 'Tho season, which is limited to four nights only, will be devoted to a porios of quick chsngos so that the audiences of Wanganui may witness' most of the successful plays contained in the repertoire of 'Mr Steplienso'n'l3 eonipany. On Saturday, 11th imt, i'rotew's musical masterpiece "Tho Skirt Dancer," will be'staged, and will ibo supplanted by '"The Dandy Doctor" on "Monday, ISthinst. For" the final night 1 of th,e season,. Mr Stephensoh has arranged a special musical bill consisting' of two unocefisful musical one. act eonipdioa entitled "None but the Braye I .' and jj r A Duel in th? Snow," in addition to which a splendid vaudeville performance has been arranged, ."flie Rose of the Riviera," which will form the first musical production of the season, is a play which has been mo^t favourably noticed by 'the critics' of England and Ana-* tralia and has' attained a vast popularity In Sydney it ran for nine weeks to crowded audiences, whilst in Melbourne it enjoyod an •equally prosperous run" of seven week? at the P"rincess Theatre. Some months ago Mr Sk-phenson deputed Mr Edward Latiri to proreed to England to iSDlect .1 musical company, and plays calculated to please the critical Australian audiences. With what measure of success .Mr Lauri carried out this task may be gauged froir the 'popularity th«. cpjnpuny has^ achieved in Australia. Miss May Beatty is already a w?ll-known favourite with Wanganui audiences, whilisfc the namo of Mr Ed- ■ ward Lauri Js most popularly known throughout Now Zealand, though h-^ makes his first appearance- here. Mks Beatty has, according to reports, delighted even her most-captuous critics in the parts allotted to her. Most of the other principals have graduated from one or other of Edwardos' Gaiety Companies, and include amongst others. Misses May Garatang, A lie* Nixon, Ada Page, Mes-its ('has. McNaughton, Fred Twitehin. Chas. and Will. Bovis. and Roy Sidney. In addition to these -is a- chorus of 50 strong-, and a full opera orchestra of 24 instrumentalists. The box plan for tho entire season opens at Messrs H. I. Jones aud Sons to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock, and as a large demand is anticipated, patrons • are enjoined to- bo in attendance punctually. Preferential choice of seats will ba accorded those who arrive earliest at the box office. - • Th»> late train' to Cantlocliff will be delayed until 11 p.m. on each evening of the season..

GARRISON BANDS SACRED CONCERT

The sacred concert given by the Ganiaon Gand in tha" Opera House last night was very largely attended, the. takings boing 418. The two tost pieces for tho Auckland conceit, <- La StranTora," and "Gems of Mendelssohn," wore splendidly played by the Band. A beautiful number was "The Lost Chord," played by Handmaster Bwckloy, with full Band accompaniment, while a quartette consisting of Bandmaster Buckley, and Bandsmen H?n'ey, Forrest, and.. Gray played a selection from "Tannhausvr," their splendid rendering delighting the audience. Mr J. G. Swan rocitod "The . Water Mill," in hia usual' fine 'style! The band wish to thank Messrs W. H. Ci. Foster, senr., J.. C. Richardson, C. Tucker, and J.- C. Frasrc tor kindly supervising the collections.