THE RICKARDS’ COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 937, 9 July 1903, Page 2

THE RICKARDS’ COMPANY.

Speaking of the Rickards’ Company a Southern exchange says :—The company that opened last night at the Theatre Royal fully upheld the high standard of Mr Rickards’, previous combinations. Chief among the musical contributors to the programme is Mr Wallace Brownlow. Mr Brownlow's first number, ■“ Beware, when brown eyes glance,” revealed all the vocalist’s old-time force of expression. Perhaps bis best effort was Cobbe’s setting of Kipling’s “ Oa the road to Mandalay.” Into this item thb singer infused a wonderful realism, which, combined with his vocal power, carried the audience with him completely. The juvenile soubrette, Miss Eileen Capel, is a clever vocaltst and a dainty little danseuse. Miss Madge Thomas has a highly cultivated soprano which she used to great advantage. The tenor, Mr Bert Bradley, who possesses a voice of rich, clear timbre, sang Sullivan’s “ Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes ” very prettily. Miss Florrie Barns diversified the performance with her serio comic specialities very successfully. The conjuring of the Great Clive was of the highest order. The comedy, “ Mrs Murphy’s Second Husband,” served to introduce Miss Graeie Emmett and her Company. This versatile comedienne kept the audience convulsed with her drolleries and witticisms. Her clever im personation of the much-married Mrs Murphy was quite irresistible. She was ably seconded by Mr Le Roy Wimmer, as her debilitated youthful husband, who imparted a fund of grotesque humor into the comedy. The musical sketch artists, Messrs Seeley and West, were prolific in amusement, producing music from a variety of queer articles. Taken altogether the entertainment is the best of its kind ever seen here, audis one that should not be missed. The box plan for the Gisborne season is now open at Mr Miller’s.