OF INTEREST TO PLAYGOERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3119, 16 January 1911, Page 2

OF INTEREST TO PLAYGOERS.

ATTRACTIONS IN THE COMIC OPERA COMPANY.

Speaking to a “Times” reporter during his brief visit lie re on Saturday morning Mr. C'has. Berkeley, advance agent for Williamson’s Comic Opera Company, which opens in Gisborne next Saturday night, said that the company would be positively the most important numerically and aristically that had ever been in .Gisborne. It was a combination of the best artists of the famous Royal Comic Opera Company and the New Comic Opera Company, which had been characterised as the best musical attractions in Australia. Never before had such a number of artists of the first water been associated in one company.

Previously when the Royal Opera Co. paid a visit to Gisborne, the best artists consisted of the prima donna, the tenor, a baritone, and one comedian.. In the present instance there were two primsi donnas, Miss Olive Godwin and Miss Florence Young. 'Of baritones there were four, namely, Messrs Herbert Clayton Frank Greene, Roland Hogue and Henry Ratcliffe. Lottie fc’argcent was their best comedienne. As to comedians, continued Mr. Berkeley, so many excellent artists had so very seldom been together in the one company, that it was impossible to say anything of any nartieular one without mentioning others. Among the foremost, however, were Langford Ivirby, W. S.. Percy, Victor Prince, Charles Albert, and Bert Gilbert. “The reason whv the company is so strong,” concluded Mr. Berkeley. “is the great success of ‘Our Miss Gibbs’ in Sydney. This piece is being placed bv a full company, consequently' Williamson’s have on their hands Miss Florence Younr and Messrs Herbert Clayton, Reginald Roberts, and Langford Ivirby.”