AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 320, 21 February 1910, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

'■MISS HOOK OF HOLLAND." We need hardly remind playgoers tliat the box plan for the visit of Pollard's Ojpera Company, which is set down for Thursday next, will be opened at Collier's this morning. So much has been read and heard regarding the tunefulness, quaintness, and laughter-pro-voking qualities of the famous Dutch play, "Miss Hook of Holland," that playgoers have been on the tiptoe of expectation awaiting its advent here. The following from a Wellington paper speaks for itself: "Dainty 'Miss Hook of Holland' has firmly established herself in the good graces of Wellington playgoers, and again last night there was a crowded house to greet her. Every seat was occupied, and large nurn-' bers had to be content with standingroom. It is no wonder that the quaint-ly-dressed and well-acted musical trifle is popular, for all in the cast are well suited, and play up to one another in a ( delightful manner." The staging and dressing will, it is promised, be of un-, usual magnificence and completeness, j The scenery is from the brush of Mr. E. R. Cole, an English artist of high standing, who has had the honor of painting two portraits of her Majesty the Queen and four of Princes's Beatrice. THE SCARLET TROUBADOURS. The principal amusement event which is attracting the direction of local the-atre-goers for this month is the return and farewell visit of that unique and most popular company of English musicians and comedians, the Scarlet Troubadours, which has met with s'uch marked success and support for the last two years. They are to open at the Theatre Koyal on Thursday week, and for positively two nights only. Much comment lias been made over the super-excellent singing to be heard by this company, iind a well-known Melbourne paper has gone so far as' to say that it would do credit to any opera house in the world. When it is known that several of the male .-mists are recognised grand opera singers, it would be somewhat remarkable if this part of their work were not remarkable, and especially considering the fact that the organisation is directed and controlled solely by Mr. Edward Branscombe, whose name is a 'household word for perfection of vocal detail. For the highest form of refined iiunior there has been nothing heard in Australia to compare with the Troubadours. The basteo, Mr. Ford Waltham, is the possessor of a voice of quite extraordinary beauty and volume, and his evident and perfect adaptibility to all demands of the stage make him an ideal number of an ideal company. The Troubadours present in costume, naval, military, hunting, pastoral, and various nautical scenes, which serve as pretty settings in which to introduce appropriate musical numbers. Much of the music given is quite original, having 'been specially written tor them in London. The management announce that in view of the many inquiries for tickets the box plans will be opened at Collier and Co.'y next Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Country patrons can reserve by forwarding money or a postal note.