ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2104, 1 February 1908, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

POLLARD’S OPERA CU.M I’AN Y.

Tho return visit of the Pollards is boing looked forward to willi keen interest by all theatregoers, and no doubt Ibis popular company will bo welcomed back on YVodnosda.y next by a. bumper house. The opening production. “Tho Isle «1 Long Bong.’’ makes no boast ns lo lilo.. An" estate has changed hands on the island of Mindoro - a place typified on the lid of ni *it eigar-boxes--lull-ing into the .hands ot Lord I’etv.y Fitzmaurieo, who is due • lo arrive. On his appearance he i© in is taken by the secretary of the estate, Alarjono Grey, for his lordship’s servant ana being smitten with the charms at tho American typist a, ho resolves to iotniiin the servant, and instructs Im uuitit Gordon Si.. BorjiuU’d (his.cooknov Keeper of the hounds) to iiiipor--o,'i:iu. him. The cockney faros id, for, the island having been taueii over bv the United Status, it is considered essential that something truly Ainriean should be done, so they resolve, on the motion of G. Ratlro Saunders, an American politician, who is running the affairs of Mindoro, to "tar and leather” someono, and tho cockney ha noons to come along at the right (or wrong) time. The- coming of the new owner ot the eii.ate is distasteful to the widow ot ii„. lute owner, one Dolores, a fierce Filipino, who roams about Hashing a stiletto, seeking r-revenge for the slight she sustained by her Jato husband leaving the estate to another. It is she who suggests that Lord Percy should be made Chief Game Commissioner, a particularly filial position, as whenever a tiger is l'ounil guilty' ot anything purticuilurl.v tigerish] it is lvis prorogerativc to go out and meet it in ©ingle combat--all of which is American .bunkum of the silliest order. Then there is Airs. Rensaellor, a wealthy willow with r. three-husband past, who is looking for a. gilt-edged fourth, and hurts him in the Sultan of Bong Bong, whoso floating island is moored off Alindoro: tho Sultan himseli, and his daughter Paquita; a whisky-sodden patriot in the person oi General Curambo, and an effectively nwulo-u]) wizard (Dolores' lather). Alter a pot-pourri of love, laughter, dancing, and singing, the cockney lord is called upon to slay Hie tiger, which is accomplished -bv the real lord s six-shooter, after which identities arc revealed, and Lord Percy secures his Marjorie. A side-story affects tho learning of draw-poker h - tho Sultan of Bong Bong. He loses his money. Ids floating island, bis clotlio=: and his self-respect, ancl roams round in a suit of newspaper©, until his daughter, tho plump Paquita, V impersonating a desperado, forces Saunders to disgorge, leaving the Sultan rich enough to become tlie gay widow’s lourt-b.