GISBORNE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 42, 17 October 1891, Page 491

GISBORNE.

Dear Bee, October 3. Since I last wrote to you our gaieties have been on the increase, both in the town and the country. Mrs Langdale Sunderland gave a very pleasant party, when about one hundred guests were present. I will, in my next letter, give you fuller particulars ; and at Te Arai, on the same evening, the Hugo minstrels gave a performance to benefit the School funds. It was by a local amateur company, and was very successful. Mr A. Sawyer sang one or two songs in first-class style, and it would be well if these musical reunions were more frequent. Now we are in full swing with the Juvenile < fpera Company, which opened here with ‘ La Mascotte ’ to a crowded house, and if applause and smiling faces can be taken as a guarantee of the complete satisfaction of the audience, then its success was certain. I have seen the opera played by adults, but never saw it better performed than by the juveniles. * La Mascotte ’ was followed by • Mikado ’ and • The Pirates of Penzance,’ the latter being repeated one night as being the most popular, but to my mind ‘ The Mikado ’ was the best of their productions. Too much cannot be said in favour of the acting of Masters Stephens and Quealy, and Miss Lily Everett, both in • La Mascotte’ and ‘ The Mikado.’ Young Stephens was Prince Laurent in ‘ La Mascotte ’ an I Koko in ‘ Mikado,’ in both of which he was very nearly perfect. He is a natural humorist, and I recommend all your readers to go and see for themselves ; and his little sister Lily, in the part of Pitti Sing in ‘ Mikado,’ as her song says, is quite ‘Yum-Yum.’ The voice of Miss Mitchell, who was added to the company in Wellington, is quite marvellous in so young a girl, and fully justifies the very favourable critiques which one sees of her performances. She must try ami quickly acquire stage action; but there is little doubt that under the able tuition of Mr Pollard she will be as exemplary as

other of his pupils. I think the little ones will take with them happy reminiscences of Gisborne. They have had one or two outings into the country, having been entertained by Mr Bradly, formerly of Hamilton, and now of Te Arai, at bis handsome residence. Hur next dissipation will be at the Race Meetings, of which several are about to take place. First the Trotting Club, then the Gisborne Racing Club, then the Poverty Bay Turf Club, ft multos alios

Madge.