AMUSEMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9712, 7 February 1910, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE BELLIS OF CUBA.'

A BRIGHT PERFORMANCE.

Saturday night has ever been an unfortunate night on which to hold an entertainment in Masterton, and consequent)}' theie was only a moderately laren attendance to greet Pollard's Opera Company last Saturday night in their presentation of "The Belle of Cuba." Apart from the fact that there have been an astonishingly large number of enter tainments in Masterton during the past two or three weeks, and the management have made a particular point of g<ving publicity to Miss Hook of Holland," and local playgoers will learn with pleasure that they are bting honoured with the first presentation of this piece in the Dominion by the Company. The play was most enjoyable from start to finish, everything going with a swing and freedom that did not permit of one moment of monotony. The construction of the piece is bright and fascinating, and it opens with a plantation scene arranged with artistic effect. The story as it progresses deals with a strike organised by the plantation hands as a protest against the Cuban planters' decision towed his beautiful daugbther to a foreigner, it being thought that the band of Castelina should have been reserved for one of the Cuban swains Finally it is decided to hold a singing competition among the three suitors, the one acquitting himself to the satisfaction of the judge to be declared the happy man. It is around this competition that a great deal of the fun of the piece centres, and the smart dialogue and witty sayings compel laughter. The music throughout is pretty and catchy, and the choruses are bright and well harmon--ISCMrJack Willis was surprisingly good in the role of the Cuban planter, both his singing and acting being of a high order of merit. His singing of the Scotch song during the competition when be is disguised as a policeman, elicited a well deserved encore. Miss O'Keefe*'besides being the possessor of a rich voice of rare range and quality, is a clever actor, bhe was in good singing form, and in the love song allotted to "Amelia, sxie was the recipient of a decided encore. Throughout the piece Miss Minnie j Topping kept the onerous role of Castelina going in a most animated i manner, and was a great success. She sang and acted well, and has | gjreatly improved in her dancing since she was in Masterton last. Mr Chas. Albert's characterisation of the touring lord was bright and clever. He ia a versatile entertainer, his acting, singing, dancing, and witty dialogue being a feature of tbprogramme. Mr G. Edwards fairly rtvdled in his part of the boaster an.) Agitator," and kept the audience in roars of laughter with his nonsense. Mr A. S. McKay took the role ( ± "Part'gas" in a very satisfactory manner. Miss May Topping and Miss Clarice Buckman both sustained important parts with credit, their singing and acting being smgualrly Pl Apart'from the piece a number of vaudeville items were given and were well received, including ballets, a tarantelle by Miss Edith Collins and a song and dance by the three children Misses Ivy Aldows, Alma Aldows and Trixie Ireland. A comic piece in which a big -Irum played a prominent part, was a great success, snd was encored no fouttimes. j

MISS HOOK OF HOLLAND

To-night the Masterton public will have its first and only opportunity during the present season of seeing tSe celebrated Dutch musical comedv "Miss Hook of Holland. In nresentirg this attraction the management have been put to an edormous outlay, and if their efforts to cater for the public are supported by their many patrons, it is their intention to carry out arrangements already made with Sir Rupert Clark, Meynall and Gunn, to produce in toe Dominion the very latest London successes. Miss Hook of Bom e byT"w' strength of the Company; ' ajchorm of " of HoT''"concertednum"ber The above tin" and "Australasian" as being re fi ,e a ;rbea ri on,hecotaial S ta S Captivating dnets in the piece are "The Sleepy"Canal," by Salley ana - tire Bandmaster' ."Who Invented Work," sung bySlinksandthe y loafers* "The Lady and the Cart in extremely diverlting nomb,* by Policeman Slinks Minna and Schnapps,an old market woman, with eccentric dance. Pin* l ittle Peter" sung by Minna; .Liuie Wooden Shoes,'' by Sally and L The "Orphans Chorus' with dance is an extremely quaint n " mbei \ ical scenery, dressing and mechamca effects and properties will be on th same extensive scale the performances in Melbourne and Sydney. To-nigbt will the only production of Miss Hook In Masterton.