ENTERTAINMENTS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2655, 10 November 1909, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

COMIC SINGING COMPETITION

The variation from the ordinary picture programme in the shape of a comic sinking competition, combined with the fact of vesterday being a public holiday, sufficed to fill His Majesty’s Theatre to overflowing last night. After the interval the singing toox place, three competitors out of fourteen being selected by the management, to face the audience. The greatest amount of applause went to Mr. Alf. Stemier for his soncr “Toora-loora-lay,” and he was accordingly adjudged the winner. The two other aspirants were Mr J.Murphy, who sang *'3ollll Malone” without funny costume or niano accompaniment, and Mr. Frank Heron, whose “Toora-li-oora-li-ay” was a very humorous effort. In addition to the singing, an excellent victure programme was presented. The winner of the competition is to sing at Friday night’s performance. There wall bo no performance to-night, but to-morrow (Thursday) and also Friday the management will present a special programme of selected subjects. On Saturday afternoon and evening there will be another complete change of programme. POLLARD’S OPERA COMPANY. When the theatrical history of New Zealand is written, there is one name that will loom large on every page, and that is “Pollard.” For over thirty years companies under thus well-Jtiunvu name have visited us again and again. The present company, which opens hero on Monday night, is only a little oyer two years old, but it is rapidly rising to the standard of former ones. It will be some time before it equals the magnificent company that was so popular in New Zealand from IS9I to 1903. following in the footsteps of that popular combination, it is bidding for public favor bv reviving such charming works as “Olivette” and “The Black Cloaks.” A feature of all “Pollard” productions has been the excellence of the staging and dressing, and the strict attention to detail. In both “Olivette” and “The Black Cloaks” we are promised soaap.tliing oven better in stage spectacle than anything Mr Pollard lias yet given us, A feature of both productions is the fact that everything used from cap to boots has been made in the Dominion. The' box plans for the season will be opened to-morrow morning at Mr. Miller’s.