POLLARD'S OPERA COMPANY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3118, 18 February 1909, Page 5

POLLARD'S OPERA COMPANY.

'"ISLE 'OF BONG BONG."

That the members of Pollard's Juvenile Upera Company have made themselves warm favourites with Masterton theatregoers wag exemplified last evening,,when the Town.. Hall was packed to the doors to witness the production of "The Isle of Bong-Bong." The company fairly eclipsed themselves in their efforts to please, and the audience were •warm in their applause of the tuneful numl e'3, encores being frequent. The acting was all that could be desired, and the scenery and effects excellent. Master Bert Nicholson, as on the previous nights, was excellent, and fcept the audience in roars of laughter with his witticisms. As Gordon St. Bernard, Master of Hounds, had a character that he revelled in, giving him plenty of scope for his acting. His singing found favour with the audience, his numbers being "The Man in tbe Moon," and "Oh, Oh, Oh." A capital character was that of *G. Rafter Saunders, an. American politician, enacted by Mr Wiltcm Welch. Mr Welch was warmly ap- • plauded for his singing of "Diplomacy." Miss Cissie O'Keefe made a charming Marjorie Grey (secretary of the estate on the island), while Miss Minnie Topping as Mrs Rensae-ller-Rensaelier wus all that could be desired. The singing of both ladies met with liberal applause at the hands of the audience, the latter singing a very catchy song entitled "Illinois." Mr J. Willis was sepn to advantage in the role of Lord Percy Fitzmaurice, while Mr Charles Albert v/as capital as the Sultan of Bong-Bong. The latter sang "The Isle of Bong-Bung" very well. Miss Milly Cruickshanks as Dolores had a difficult part to enact, "but she carried it to a successful issue. About a score of other characters were in capable hands. The singing and dancing of Misses Alma Aldous and Trixie Ireland are worthy of special mention. To-night the season will be brought to a close with "Blue Bell in Fairyland," which, wherever staged, is a warm favourite with audiences.