ABBOTT'S OPERA HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4325, 26 March 1884, Page 2

ABBOTT'S OPERA HOUSE.

Tho Waltemata Minstrels.

The Waitemata Minstrels gave a performance at the Opera House last evening for the benefit of the funds of St. Thomas's Church. The house was thronged with a large and appreciative audience. The first portion of the entertainment consisted of the time-honoured "chair business," the effect of which, however, was marred by the evident self-consciousness of several of the performers. The best numbers on the programme wero "Genevieve," by Mr Sceats ; " Bud and Blossom," by Mr Caradus j and "Mounseer Monkeystick," by Mr Robertson. In the second part Mr Hargrave achieved a' genuine success in a comic song a la Harry Richards, " Not in These 80-its." It had a professional finish about it that at once took the "house" by storm, and at1- encore was demanded, which the singer rosponded to by "giving. another _ong of tlio same eharacteiy Mr George Morris, always good, contributed two of his amusing sketches, "The Height for a Soldier." and "The Frenchman." The performance concluded -ni.h an "operatic burlesque" entitled "Tho Troubled Troubabour." The piece was dressed and staged well, and in the pieco itself there were some elements of humour, but owing to the fact that most of the performers were not line-perfect, it fell very fiat.