Page 3 Advertisements Column 2

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 785, 10 November 1865, Page 3

T R E ROYAL. EDITH PALMERSTON'S ENTERTAINMENTS OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. The Melbourne Argus. The Polytechnic Hall, under the artistic management of so clever a lady as Miss Edith Palmerston, is nightly well attended, as it should be. The varied characters, amusing songs, and vivacious anecdotes, rendered so ably by Miss Edith Palmerston, furnish one of the pleasantest of evening entertainments.—March 2nd. The variety which Miss Edith Palmerston almost nightly imparts to her character sketches seems inexhaustible. Her latest effort, and also her highest attempt in the direction of regular dramatic art, was afforded on the last two nights as Ophelia, in the mad scenes of "Hamlet." The personation—all the more difficult that it is separated from the action and scenic effects of the drama —gave proof of talents in tragedy, to the many already recorded of the fair artist's comic power. The snatches of song -were delicately rendered, and the madness of the stricken ladyiiconsistently sustained, which cannot always be affirmed of the Ophelias on the stage.— March 11th. The Melbourne Herald. Miss Edith Palmerston's (Mrs W. Alexander) entertainment was attended on Saturday evening by a numerous audience, who repeatedly testified by enthusiastic applause their appreciation of the varied talents this indefatigable and pleasing artiste displayed in the impersonation of her numerous characters. " Snacks," the deaf boy, " Kitty Brushit," one of the shrewdest of servant maids, and " Paddy Flannagan," a thorough Irish boy, were especial favorites, and they alone are sufficient to ensure Miss Palmerston a large measure of popularity.— February 27th. The Canterbury Standard. Miss Edith Palmerston.—Miss Palmerston's versatility is extraordinary, and must be seen to be thoroughly appreciated. It would be ridiculous to say that she is equally successful in all the characters in which she appears. In one or two, however, we cannot say in what respect it would be possible to improve. Those who are inclined to be hypercritical will tell you that Miss Palmerston's sketches are caricatures ; and they will point triumphantly to some exaggeration in language or manner as a proof of the correctness of their opinion. Well, suppose they are caricatures, and we are not prepared to dispute the point, they are the sort of caricatures in which Punch, Dickens, and one or two others, continually indulge, and by means of which they place before us true types of certain classes. Exaggeration, we contend, is absolutely necessary in these cases, and a rigid adherence to truth would not produce the desired effect. Although we have only one side of "Mrs Flintskyn's " character presented to us, and that, too, slightly overdrawn, no one will venture to say that we fail to receive a true impression of the London lodging-housekeeper of a certain grade. " Jemima Jane," although she indulges in certain unpleasant tricks, we can easily believe to be true to nature. But the gem of the " Sketches,'' to our thinking, is " Kitty Brushit," maid-of-all-work to Mrs Flintskyn, who keeps company with " Jack," who is in the " horse-carts," as Kitty kindly informs us. Jack is a very goodhearted fellow, takes Kitty out when she draws her quarter's wages, smokes lots of cigars, and drinks any quantity of gin and water at her expense. Kitty's knowledge of the Queen's English is not by any means perfect, and we may be inclined to think that Miss Palmerston strains this just a little too much ; but, as a whole, we think Kitty nearly perfect. "Dickey Hartshorn, the doctor's boy," who describes the reception of gratis visitors by the assistant, and is obliged to taste the medicines all round (whenever he has mixed them, up through a game at marbles or a street fight), because he can't read the directions, is a particularly racy bit of fun. His face, as he tastes the new patient's phial, and eventually declares it to be lotion ! is alone a rich treat. Perhaps not the least enjoyable part of Miss Palmerston's entertainment is to be found in the ballads introduced so profusely. Miss Palmerston has a very sweet voice, which is thoroughly under control; and her singing of "Where the Bee sucks" was charming.— October 30. Edith Palmerston has received in England the higest and most unanimous commendation of the London and Provincial Press—including the Times, Morning Post, Era, Liverpool Daily Mercury, Bristol Daily Post, &c. ; and in Victoria and South Australia, in addition to the Melbourne press, the most favorable recognition of her varied talents—from Ballarat Star, Geelong Advertiser, Adelaide Register, South Australian Advertiser, and the entire press of Australia ; and, moreover, has been greeted with the utmost enthusiasm in every city and town in th» Colonies ehe has visited.