"Fun on the Bristol."

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6065, 4 February 1891, Page 3

"Fun on the Bristol."

The good ship Bristol has at lemrth weighed anchor, pushed off from Dunedin wharf, and got into deep water well down the stream. On Saturday the landing at tho Princess Theatre was fairly crowded to see her off, and from the moment the fir.-t whistle sounded until the good fhip sunk below the horizon the crowd cheered her and her brew. The ship's doctor, otherwise the scenic artist, deserves a word of praise for his share iv tho work, for in his department everything is spick and c-pan and of the finest, this beiug especially so in tho scenes on board —between decks and the deck amidships by moonlight. What nime we are to givo this entertainment we have not yet decided. Comedy, opera, variety show, extravaganza all find place, and therefore to give a name we should have to invent and suggest. The first act is comedy of the Irkh drawing room order, and the fan here is to be accounted for by the peculiarities of the dialogues, and th& powers of the artist. The dialogue is screamingly funny, some of the descriptions, as that of courtBhip, being themselves simply beyond description, but all this would be of no avail without the power of tho artists to make the most of their opportunities. Mr. Sheridan, Mr. James, Misses Whiteford and Tudor are all, individually and collectively, well qualified to take care of themselves in this respect. The (i widdy" speaks, acts (almost tragically at times), sings, and ~ most important—moves like life, seldom overdoing, but mostly just hitting the mark, and she dresses magnificently. Miss Whiteford is charming. She looks aroh, coy—- •« fetching " in fact, and she goes about the stage with a wonderful grace of movement, while in addition she possesses a fine voice, and knows how to use it. Miss Tudor, too, is o-ood, doing her work with all the finish of°an artißt. Mr. James is best in the rowdier scenes, and in them always genres. All through the three hours' programme these ladies and gentlemen maintain their hold upon the audience, and we predict for Miss Whiteford a warm reception every time she steps to the footlights on a Dunedin stage. Miss Arline is another lady who, in her department, is carrying all hearts before her. As a banjoist, as a dancing doll, as one of the Sappho trio, she is fine, and displays her capabilities in a most undeniable' fashion. Miss Stella Tudor, besides her share in the moro set part of the business, does her fair half of the work of the tin pot band and the combat dance with her brother, Mr. John Tudor, and they do it so well that the audience would never object to a repetition. Miss F. Wiseman is a specialist in her own line, and we shall always be glad to see her. We must not omit to mention the singing members of the company. These are Miss»s Whiteford and Lome and Messrs. Carr and Imano. Their quartette " Exce sior was a treat, and in other-numbe-s, too, they individually acquit themselves well.—Dunedin Star.