AMUSEMENTS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4409, 2 October 1871, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

3?RINCE of "Wales. — Saturday night was "the occasion on which. Mr. Hoskius and Miss Colville played the last of their series of last farewells at the Prince of Wales. This time the performances were for the benefit of Mr. and Mrs. .Ryan, than whom among the late company we know of none more deserving of public recognition. Mr. Ryan has long been a great favourite in Auckland and other parts of the colony, whilst Mrs. Ttyan is known as a painstaking and faithful representative of any character for which she may be cast. The house was well filled, and the entertainment could not be other than good with the programme faithfully carried out. Mr. Hoskins as Lieutenant Kingston, and Miss €olvillc as Miss Mortimer, played in the fine comedy of " Naval Engagements." It had never before been placed on the Auckland stage, and those who were not present on Saturday missed witnessing a very fine performance. Perhaps Mr. Hoskins never played better than he did in this comedy, brilliant and sparkling as it i» in every line, and Mias Colville certainly looked and played her part most admirably. We have now to lose, at least for a time, tv/o theatrical artistes whohave firmly established themselves a3 great favourites with the Auckland public. Although we have no assurance of the truth of what we hear, we hope and almost believe it will be the case, that Mr. Hoskins and Miss Colville, after filling a short engagement at the Thames, willieturn to Auckland, where they will remain permanently in our midst. 'Iho playgoing ])ortion of our city residents do nob like parting with such an accomplished actor and actres9 as Mr. Hoskins and Miss Colville, and ■this lady and gentleman have expressed themselves willing to lemain where they have boon so well received and so much appreciated. It is said then that we are to have a new theatre, worthy of the city in which it is to be erected ; that Mr. Iloskins will become one of the propi ietoi s ; that he will take the management of it, and import fiom time to time Hie highest talent proem able in the tragic, comic, and lyric drama, and that Auckland will shortly become a dramatic cynosure. To all of winch we — So mote it be. Weare veiy glad to hear so much, and wo tiust that on Mr. lTo>kins's return from the Thames «c shall Hurt thiib rc^oit has not spoken untruthfully. — The Kxeclsior Minstrels open at this house to-ui^it. City l{\r.i,. — There was scarcely a song or a dance or a piecu of iiiblriinmntal nmsie which was gh'ou hy the Minsticls at the Cifc}' Hall on Saturday night which was nut encored. It is no doubt very gratifying to the /eelings of a vocalist or a musician to be so approved of by an audience llufc ho h asked to repeat lm perfotmanco, but he certainly would not comply with the request if he wcie fully aware that he was bringing upon himself a pecuniaiy loss, besides doing himself a great injustice. It was that popular tcuor vocalist, Sims I'eeves, who, on one occasion, being vociferously encored, came forwauiand spoka something as foil nvs :—"I: — "I have engaged myself to-night to sing threo songs ; if I repeat these I shall have sung aix, which is double what I agreed for. I cannot encoie my tailor for a suit of clothes, nor my butcher for a joint of meat. I have to pay in proportion to what I receive. You have paid to hear three of my songs, and by what right have you to demand six ? My voice is my living. You applaud mo because it delights you, but if I were to strain my voice and como before you with harsh notes you would hiss me off the stage, and you would be in the right. Thorefoic, la-lies and gentlemen, I don't see it. The manager of this hall tells mo, and I believe him, that by lespouding to encores I am actually robbing him as -veil as injuring myself, because if any person wishes to hear me in a song more than once he will probably come again another night, but if 1 sing it twice at the price I bargained to sing it once for he is perhaps satisfied. " Mona. Jullien, the first musician who introduced promenade concerts into London, speaking from his experience, said, "At ono time I used to allow my singers and players to respond to the encores. JSTow I forbid them, I find my season runs three weeks longer by not allowing pieces to bo encored. People will come again to hear a favourite song or piece of music repeated, when they would not by having their wishes gratified by a respond to an encoro." Mr. James White, the leader of the first Christie Minstrels, Baid he could always play his company half as long again in the same town when he prevented the members of his troupe from answering to encores. Our Excelsiors may perhaps be able to tako a bint from this when thoy open to-night at the Prince of "Wales. Theatre Royal. — There are many who will be glad to welcome back Mr. and Mrs. Gouriay and their talented family again, \rho, having returned from the Thamesj will appear to night at this house in some of their f avou rite drawing-room pieces. Mr. Gouriay practically refutes what was said by Sydney Smith, that a Scotchman has no humour in him, and that it would require the uuited strength of a team of horses to drag a joke out of him. . Mr, Gouriay is a very clever and a Tery truthful representative of a* type of his countrymen who abound in quiet hiimour, quaint sayings, and who have an ander-current of quiet satire which belongs to no other nationality. We look upon this actov and humourist as the best represent*, tive of Scottish' character since the days of Maokay ; and Mr. Gouriay always does himself an injustice when he departs from hjs role.aiid^ descends to English burlesque. Of. course Mr. Gouriay has to suit- the taste of those who pay to hear him, and if burlesqu'o ( add;bu%nery -'fdraw," Mr. Gouriay is ,pqrhapa right in giving, way; b,ut when lie forsakes the line of Mistress MoTayiah ana her relativoi he always causes a feeling of disappointment among his genuine Admirers,