PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2675, 12 February 1866, Page 5

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

A troupk of minstrels, calling themselves "The Ironclads," made their dgbub before the people of Auckland, at this theatre, on Saturday evening. The gem of the performances was an American national song and chorus— " Sherman's March through Georgia." The popularity of the air, and the sweetness and accuracy with which it was rendered, combined to make it a great success. The applause it received must have been encouraging to the artiste, who merited great praise throughout. The finale to the first part, by Mr. Taylor and the company, entitled " Don't you hear the Bulljine," with imitations, was also very clever. Mr. W. Millar, the harpist and barytone, gave the ballad of " Annie Lisle " very fairly, and Mr. Reed's local song "T'other Side of Jordan," was a great success, and was loudly encored. The song, composed for the occasion, commented upon some of the local topics of the day, and was well received. Mr. Heed also gave a solo on the violin in ten different attitudes, which showed a thorough command of the instrument, and elicited some good music. Mr. Bataon. tenor, sang the ballad, *' Jeaunie with the Light Brown Hair," very sweetly. Mr. J. E. Taylors pictures of graceful attitude as " The Black Apollo" were much admired; but to follow these up with the long Ethiopian drama of "The Black Statue " was a great want of taste and variety. The omission ef one would have been acceptable to the audience. The "Andy Andy" sketch was a deplorable exhibition of nonsense, which we hope will be superseded by something more substantial. If (as suggested by our contemporary) it "is calculated to send the audience to their homes with aching sides," it is solely in consequence of the pain its performance inflicts. The silver bell jig by Mr. Thomas Peel merits the highest encomium, and proved the greatest attraction of the evening. Such skill and ability in the art have never been exhibited here before ; and Mr. Peel may very justly claim for himself the title of " Thfc Champion Jig J >ancer." His abilities wore also very apparent in the Mississippi fling. Mr. Taylors make-up, in •"Nancy Fat," was clever, whilst the same term may be applied to his performance on the tambouriue. Mr. Peel showed a thorough mastery of the " bones."