"HAPPY HOURS" COMPANY.

Kumara Times, Issue 1505, 25 July 1881, Page 2

"HAPPY HOURS" COMPANY.

It is two years ago last December since the " Happy Hours" Company visited Kumara for the second time, and then as Mr and Mrs Hart's " Operetta Company." We like to see old faces again. Pardon the expression, Miss Hart, we should not call you old—happy as "La Petite Louise" was then in her charming songs, the child has now ripened into figure and grace, and takes the responsible part of presiding at the piano, playing the overtures and several accompaniments with the ease of one who has been carefully tutored, and occasionally taking her part in the play as an accomplished actress. The age at which the voice changes will account for any apparent weakness which may have been noticed on Saturday night in the pleasing ditties with which she occasionally enlivened the musical comedietta of "My Wife's Relations." Mr and Mrs Hart are so well known as talented and efficient artistes that we need not comment much on the accomplished and finished style of acting which animates their presence on the stage throughout the evening; and the rapid changes which Mrs Hart makes from one character to another and her singing and graceful dancing were occasions for frequent outbursts of applause. Similar approbation greeted Mr Hart, who enlivens both pieces with hia innate versatility and wit. The after-piece, " Molloy's Dilemma," or "Irish Courtship," afforded even greater facilities for the pleasure and amusement of the audience, and shouts of laughter were frequent from every part of the theatre. " Happy Hours" is a fitting expresion to give of the kind of entertainment provided by this company, whose efforts to please, we should not forgot to say, are ably supplemented in every way by Mr Walter Kerby, the business manager. To-night " The German Band-master" and " King Henry's Little Game" are announced for production, when we hope to see the house well filled.