OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1359, 11 May 1916, Page 32

OPERA HOUSE.

The new programme presented at. the Opera House on Monday night was most entertaining and original. Several new artists made a first appearance, among whom was Madame Marvelle with her wonderfully clever cockatoos. The birds, whose intelligence is not supposed to be their strong point, showed what training and the persuasive arts can do, for Madame, with a nod of encouragement or a firm order, stage-managed a performance that was remarkably clever. About a dozen birds took part, the acts including a waltz, in which the birds pirouetted delightfully, and a miniature coach was supplied with a coachman, footman, horses and even the princess, a sweet little grey and pink bird, who hopped in as the coach drove off. A scene in which a house caught fire was exceptionally good, the cockatoos, after managing the engine, hose and ladders, salvaged quite an amount of furniture. Charlie’s Canine Circus was also an interesting and popular item. The dogs, seven in number and ranging from a dear’ little lap-dog to a beautiful white setter, did some marvellous turns. A circus ring had been erected and in it the dogs jumped through hoops, balanced themselves on their front legs on the hands of their trainer and rode on each others’ backs in quite the approved circus fashion. The Estelle Wordette Company, another first appearance, caused shrieks of laughter by their sketch “A Honeymoon in the Catskills,” giving a most amusing, but we shall hope not realistic turn. Jack Martin, who pattered cheerfully on while he did most wonderful cowboy tricks with a piece of rope, was a source of great merriment. George de Alma, with his banjo, was encored and re-encored. The tone and melody he gets out of his instrument is truly wonderful. Monsieur de Nickelson, the French magician, preformed feats that strung the curiosity of the audience to the highest pitch, while Perona, with his accordeon, also proved himself an-

other very popular artist. The house was packed, and no doubt will continue to be so during the presentation of this excellent programme.