AMUSEMENTS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4401, 3 October 1871, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

Prinoe of Walk.— The legitimate drama has deserted the board* of this home, and Minstrel melodies have usurped ita place. Last night "The Excelsiors" played to a rather thin attendance, which may in part be set down to the very unfavourable state of the evening from a weather-point. There was a now selection of songs, dances, and choruses, all very well given, loudly applauded, and, of course, encored. One does not easily tire of a good song, be it ever so ancient, providing it tie well sung. One does not soon tiro either of witnessing olever dancing, and well-executed instrumental solos ; bnt one does weary over old riddles and catch-questions, which wt have heard asked and solved at home, read of in ieatbooks, somany, many years gone by. When will Minstrels cease to tell us that twice eleven are twenty.two, and that twice ten are twenty— too ; and that a long hotel bar score for drinks is like a dodo because it has so many do.do.s in it ? Riddles are very well when they are quite new, thoroughly sriginal, with a sharp point to them, any well told ; but with due reßpeet to the present troupe, and all other troupes of the order of minstrels, we would like to be allowed to say that their conundrums would be muoh better omitted from such entertainments. They are not quite so ancient that they have been forgotten by the present generation, nor so new bufe what we have all heard them before, nor so good that we can afford to laugh at them more than once. There are none of them which would earn a prize on a " conundrum night" at a glassblowera' or circus exhibition.

Theatre Royal. — A drawing-room enter* taiument on a wet night ia very good indeed when, it is in one's own drawing-room, but when one has to walk through sloppystreets, with the rain overhead, even to witness Mr. Gourlay act, and Mrs. Gouiiay aing, is quite another kind of an affair. To the weather — certainly not the performance — may be attributed a poor attendance* here last night. There waa an excellent programme, and those present were highly pleased at the pleasant manner it was laid before theai. This evening, among other good things, Mrs. McGregor will hold her levee, which is always fresh, however often played, and never fails to please.