Lilliputian Opera Company.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3904, 4 July 1881, Page 2

Lilliputian Opera Company.

A capital house welcomed the Juvenile Opera Company at the Theatre Hoyal on Saturday, on the occasion of the first representation of the comic opera of " Pinafore." The opera being so well known on tho Thames the greatest interest appeared to be taken in the performance, andean amount of attention was given to the rendition of the several characters not always accorded a performance. After a while the fact appeared to be forgotten that children were playing the piece, and it was only when the little midshipmite crossed the stage or the towering figure of the aunt appeared amongst the group of his *• sisters and his cousins " that the spectators were recalled to the fact that yoang children were • amusing them. To say the several oharacters were well played is only to repeat tbe universal verdict, and that some of the representations could not be excelled, is the opinion of many who witnessed the performance on Saturday night,. The character of Dick Deadeye, taken by a little lad named Osmond, had such a lot

of new business thrown into it that th e house was fairly taken by storm. In th hands of this boy the character was quite different from anything ever seen on the Thames, and of course was a surprise to the audience. Miss May Pollard as Josephine was Tery nice, acted capitally, and rendered her songs very correctly ; her dresses were most becoming, and in keeping with the character. The part of Sir Joseph Porter, taken by Miss Maude Pollard, was made a great deal of; and this fair girl who, young as she is, appears to have studied the part with care and attention, and to have seized the salient points and peculiarities of the "Ruler of the Queen's Navee," with great success. Captain Corcoran found an able representative in Master Herbert Salinger, while the Jialph Jiackstraw of Master C. Osmond left little to be desired. Ealph's voice is a very sweet one, and the careful manner in which the part was played frequently secured the approval of the audience. The boatswain 1 Master Sheeuan played well up to Dick J Deadeye, and between them a great deal of amusement was created. The new business especially took with the house, who were not slow in acknowledging the efforts of the children. Little Buttercup (Miss Olive Pollard) threw a great deal I of life into her part, and although not possessed of as good voice as some of the others, played her part with great earnestness. Cousin Hebe (Miss Salinger) played the part quietly, and did not give it the same prominence that other ladies have done who played it on the Thames ; yet where so many good characters are, all can not take leading parts. The aunt of Mr Darbyshire, thrown in to show the contrast, had a great deal to do to keep back the part of Hebe, but so strange did presence of an old-fashioned lady—given to take snuff, and using an immense red handkerchief, appear among the troupe of little sisters and cousins, that the greatest amusement was caused the audience. This was heightened by the delicate attention of the little middy, and his attempts to take up the old lady after her repeated falls on the stage, which ended in the little fellow being folded up in the red handkerchief and carried off by the old dame. The whole performance was a great success, and all the scenery and accessories were most appropriate and complete. We shall not be surprised to find good houses patronising the troupe daring their stay on the Thames.