THEATRE ROYAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 89, 26 March 1902, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

" FLORODORA." The popularity of Pollard's Opera Company was again demonstrated on Tuesday evening, when they opened a short season of two nights at the Theatre Koyal. Although " Florodora" has been staged here by this company on a previous visit, it "caught on " immensely, owing to the excellent manner in which all the parts were filled, and the variety of interesting and amusing incidents, as well as the taking music with which the piecs Ar. I. */T_ TIT

b abounds. As Tweedlepuncb, Mr W. i Percy, the dominant personage on the stage, from his first entrance right up to the fall of tbe curtain, kept the house in a constant roar of laughter whenever he was in evidence. His drollery, pitter dancing, and general low comedy were ? simply imsis-ible, and elicited tha heartiest applause from the audi- [ eoco. As Cyrus Gilfain, the proprietor of Florodora, Mr H. Quealy was j most successful in acting, singing, and dancing, and shared with Mr Percy the r main wsrk of the play. Mr D. O'Connor was in splendid voice, and • his impersonation of Frank Abercoed was artistic and finished. Mr Carter's musical vo : ce was al-o beard to great advantage, and the little he had to do was well carried out. As Lady Holyrood, the knowing widow, Miss Edgar saog and acted with much verve, and she scored a great success in the singing of " Tact." Miss Evans' impersonation of '• Dolores" waa on the whole an agreeable performance, though it seemed at times as if the part was not a congenial one. In the variety enter- ' tainment, however, especially in the burlesque of the balcony scene of Borneo and Juliet, she was at her best. To those who remember Miss Waldorf's accent and intonation the imitation given of that actress' peculiarities was lifelife and artistic, and formed ' with Mr Percy's assistance one of the moss amusing parts of the programme. In this poriion also mention must bo made of the mirvelloua dancing of Miss Rosie Evesson as one of the " Prapses.", The tempestuous but graceful whir ls ■ which this lady and Mr Perry executed roused the audience to a great pitch of. enthusiasm, which was enhanced by : the final drollery of t*;e latter with the dummy danseuse. The chorus an l i attendants were all up to the high' standard of mirh attained by this j compiny, and Mr Pollard is to be can-. 1 gratulated ou presenting the piece in such a complete and finished q-.yle, ths only drawback being that the orchestra at times overpowered the singers, a defect probably due to their not being 1

'acquainted with the acoustics of the I building. TO-NIGHT " Tha Rose of Persia " (Sullivan) will be staged. Not only is there a wealth of setting in this piece which appeals , to the eyes of the audience, but the ' i melodies for which the author is so 1 justly celebrated ares«re to be warmly ; appreciated. There is also a Ifirgf ' amount of fun, and Mr. Percy may be i relied on to do his best to satisfy the ; audience in this direction. Wherever . this operetta has been performed it has > attracted crowded houses, and been ; most warmly appreciated. ' BOER WAR SOENES. | In the Theatre Royal on Easter Saturday afternoon and night a com- • plele series of war pictures will b« E shown. The scenes wpre taken by Mr [ Melton Prior, war correspondent for [ (ho London News, and were originally t bought by Mr J. C. Williamson, the ! leviathan showman of Australia, and, after louring all the principal towns of 1 Australia were sold to Captain Ballin- | tine, wbo exhibited them for six consecutive weeks in Auckland. The scones commence with the Jameson , Raid and include Majuba Hill, the death of* General Saymour, Gordons s fighting on the battlefield, fights at i Modder River, General French fighting '/at the front, Buller, Methuen, Lidy- ' umith, White, Long Tom, Pretoria, ' Kimberley, Baden Powell, New Zaa- | landers fighting at the front, the Seventh Contingent in action, tbe escape of De Wet, Kruger's fight from ; South Africa, arjd 250 moving and i stationary scenes taken on tbe battle- ■ field during engagements between tbe British and the Boers.