OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1507, 13 March 1919, Page 34

OPERA HOUSE.

Pollard and Jackson scored well in their vocal turn at the Opera House on Monday night, opening in a tasteful rendition of “Beautiful Lady,” followed by a feeling interpretation - of “Sympathy,” and concluding with “The Lost Chord.” Mr. Jackson was also heard to advantage in a solo, “Mary of Argyle,” both artists receiving a hearty round of applause. Romaine, with his eloquence of expression on the violin, again scored with all sections of the audience, his selections numbering the “Inter-

mezzo,” a ragtime melody and “Just a Baby’s Prayer.” The Faynes repeated their singing and contortionist act, which features among other things smart changes of frocking on the part of the lady. Ray and Gray in snatches of song and dance made up the vaudeville portion. The Al. Bruce Company put on a most laughable farce, “Two Peas in a Pod,” with embellishment in the form of songs and ballets. Mr. Bruce and Mr. Robert Raymond, who presented an exact similarity, were the pivot of the piece, their likeness to each other causing plenty of perplexing situations. Miss Mabelle Morgan was in splendid voice, her two solos being an outstanding pleasure. “Chimes of Normandy” was prettily enhanced by the Rosebud ballet. The Rosebuds were also effectively in evidence in supplementing Miss Letty Craydon in “The Ghost of the Gorlin Man,” and Miss Florence Fanning’s song, “The Goo-Goo Man,” causing consternation in the latter by invading the stalls. Mr. Raymond sang with excellent effect “The Old Bass Viol,” and was deservedly applauded. The next offering will be “The King of Patagonia,” which terminates a seven weeks’ season.

FROM CHORUS TO PRINCIPAL. GRACIE LAVERS MAKES GOOD. Four years ago Miss Gracie Lavers was in the chorus of J. C. Williamson’s Musical Comedy Company. Now she is playing principal parts. Which goes to show that fortune does sometimes reward talent and earnestness. Fortune in this case means Mr. and Mrs. Hugh J. Ward. It was a children’s pantomime performance that oiled the wheels for the young artist. In this production —a facsimile of the grown-up presentation of “Cinderella” — Miss Lavers was cast in Miss Minnie Love’s part (principal boy). Mr. Ward, after seeing her work, picked her out and placed her in the hands of Mrs. Ward, who has so successfully launched other Australian girls— Dorothy Brunton and Gladys Moncrieff, for example. So for the past four years Miss Lavers has been studying under Australia’s well-known teacher, and the little artist cannot say enough in praise of her mentor’s charm and thoroughness. “It’s only a tiny voice I have,” she says modestly, “but what there is I owe it all to Mrs. Ward. She has been kindness itself to me and has taught me so much that is essential to a stage career. And if I make a suc-

cess it is all due to her training.” Miss Lavers’ first important part was Lou Ellen Budd, the young wife, in “Oh! Boy.” Mrs. Ward taught her the score and it was produced in Sydney some eight months ago. Previous to that she took the part of Dorothy in “You’re in Love,” and was Wendy in “Peter Pan” when Miss Kathlene McDonell played it in Sydney. Those were her first big plays. Now she has “Going Up” to her credit, which title just fits in appropriately with her progress.