AT THE OPERA.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18640, 19 May 1932, Page 5

AT THE OPERA.

AUDIENCE IMPORTANT. FEATHER FANS. The saying, “the play’s the thing,’’ loses some of its significance during an opera season when the audience assumes some importance, especially on first nights. When the firstnighters have been discovered in their a'ccustomed seals, the question as to who is in the boxes comes uppermost. If their curiosity were not satisfied In the meantime, the audience at the first night of “ La Boheme” at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Sydney, recently, certainly knew that members of the company occupied the boxes when, at the fast curtain, masses of (lowers were flung on to the stage from those vantage points. Cesarina Valobra, who had delighted everyone with her Mimt, I lire w from the stage several single blooms, which were deftly ’caught by ttie conductor, Emilio Rossi. His wife, who wore a handsome silver wrap with her black frock, -was in the box occupied by several stars. Also in the box were Signora Pagliughi, who clvose a frock, of orchid georgette and carried a huge ostrich feather fan of the same shade. Those soft feather fans seem admirably suited to the opera in their noiseless movement. One of Hie palest blue was carried by rUgnorina Gsstagna, whoso frock wa's' of sapphire blue moire. Signorina Surani was in black georgette. In the opposite box sat Miss Grace Angelau, wearing a frock of amber satin; Miss Margaret Chalmers, in black lace; and Miss Hazel McGilvray, in daffodil satin. Mr and Mrs E. J. Tait were in the front row of Hie dress-circle, and were accompanied by Mr and Mrs J. Bancks, the latter wearing a iow-cut gown of white brocade and a mulilstranded necklace of bottle-green beads. The Consul-General for Italy was present with Donna C.rossardi, who wore a black and autumn-toned floral chiffon frock. Mrs John Bridge wore a striking ensemble of black velvet. Lady Denison chose flame-coloured moire. Mrs T. H. Kelly had jet shoulder straps on her black rornainc gown. Mrs Norman Pope’s ensemble was of lily of the valley green. Mrs F. J. Davy wore a lupin blue lace ensemble. Mrs W. P. McElhone was in black with a coatee of Lido blue brocade. Mrs Norton Jowttt chose beaded black georgette; Miss Lute Drummond's gown was a putty-coloured lace. Mrs Poate wore a striking frock of cerise satin. Mrs Sep. Levy was in black chiffon. Others in the audience were Captain and Mrs H. J. Feakes. Mrs Eva Wunderlich, the Consul-General for Japan and Madame Inoue, Mrs P. J. Leahy, Mr and Mrs F. Clune, Miss Ann Jenkins, Mrs Penfold Hyland, Miss Clarice Faithfull Anderson, Miss Fairfax, Mr and Mrs Warwick Fairfax, Miss Gladys Marks, Mr Morgan O'Neill, Miss K. O’Neill, and Mrs A. C. Godhard.