The Juvenile Opera Company.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 667, 3 October 1891, Page 2

The Juvenile Opera Company.

PIR4.TES OF PENZANCE. This opera w.b on Thursday ninht pat an for ibe neoond time, and wae again eh.r.oterised with th" spirited aoung, Binpioß, and dancing, set off with exqui.ite Hoenery, that was observable on previous evenings. Th. singing of Miss Marion Mitehell, the young lady from Wellington, was of course one of the principal features of 'he opera. She was even better than on the first evening, and ia evidently quickly overcoming that feeling of nervousoesuness whioh is such a disadvantage to aoyone singing in public. There is no doubt that eha has been gibed with a voioe of great merit, and if the young lady will but turn a deaf ear to the many praises she ha. received, and continue to possess that genuil which has been described as the capacity for taking pains, she will probably earn a reputation that will not merely he coionial. She is far from being a Nellie Melba yet, but she has the vocal gift in a remarkable degree, and by retaining that loveable mod.aty which now so charmingly becomes her, and by diligent attention to her capable instructors, her future will be one of great promise. Mis. Mitchell is now in the beat of hands, a. we have already had good proof. If the young lady does not take the Sydney people by storm when she appears b-fore them we shall be very much surprised. She ha. already become fairly accomplished as an ttoltesq, and on Thursday night her singing and acting were much applauded. Master Alf Stephens is another young performer—of course in quite a different line—who will make a mark in the stage profession if he keeps his h-ad firm, and does not turn giddy from the praise which has been accorded him. His acting of Ko Ko in the Mikado will safely bear the sternest criticism, and as the MajorGeneral in the Pirates he shows a ver. ■ tjlity that fully proves his powers as a comedian, If the clever Alf does not relax attention tu the advice of his instructors, he will tnja few years be a most welcome player on any stage in the colonies, and Gisborne people will feel pleasure in hi. future success Of the other performer, in the Pirates, each one is entitled to prai.e for bis or her success. Misses Lily Everett and Flo Russell, st Frederic and Ruth, were frequently ap-r plauded. Young Q lealey was brimful of fun, and Master Percy capitally took the part of Pirate King. Little Mary Sullivan caused much fun as a tiny policeman, and Violet Ri«»ell made a pretty little pirate, getting warmly encored for her .tni. Th. ohoru.e. were all good, and the picnic group wa« especially admired. The finale, the patriotic tableau ol Rule B'itttnU, evoked mnob tnthusia.m, and Lily Stephen, bad a highly complimentary recognition on her appearance, and enthusiastic encores for her eoog.

THE MIKADO. The popularity of the Mikado, and th. magnifloen'. manner in which it ia staged anfl played, ct bourse attracted a good house la.i night, and the enthusiasm was high from th. time the curtain was drawn and diaoloaed ths beautiful scene that has been compared to a glimpse of fairyland, until the close of the last act, when all ended well. Master Stephens, a. Ko Ko, wa. given many ringing rounds of applause, and hi. appearance at any time wai the signal for an enthusiastic welcome whioh in each case he well deserved. Mies Everett as Natiki Poo, Miss Russell a. Katisha, Master Queeley us Pish Tu.lt, Master Percy as the Mikado, end Master Olemow as Pooh Bah, were each strikingly successful, while the three little maids. Edith Zeigler, Lily Stephens, and Nell Wilson, were charming in their respective parts. A repetition for the third time was in many cases just about half what the audience appeared to desire, and if the enthusiasm bad been responded to without; thought of time—well, probably the Mikado would still have been unfinished, with only a faint hope of being done in time to bejriq again for this afternoon’s performance. But the line had to be drawn snmewhere, and the innumerable recalls could only be responded to so far as that could be done without an nnfair encroachment on the time at disposal. As it was the young people responded very graciously so often as they could. The choruses went off splendidly, and the pretty posturing and use of the fans sent the audience into ecetacies of delight, the appreciation of the beautiful scenes being very marked.

The Company give a matinee this afternoon, when the Mikado will be played again. Ths management has generously made the ohargs only sixpence fcr children who are aoooma panied by parents or guardians. Parents should certainly try end give their children the treat of seeiug the pretty Mikado, which is the delight of all who witness it, To-nigbt the Mascolte will be reproduced, as the farewell performance of tbs Company in Gisborne. Ths drill manesuvres are ia themselves a great attraction, to say nothing Of the merit ot the play itsslh