'FUN ON THE BRISTOL.'

Evening Star, Issue 8399, 27 December 1890, Page 2

'FUN ON THE BRISTOL.'

As was to be expected, the Princess's Theatre was crowded to thto doors last on the occasion of the performance of ' Fan on the Bristol' by Mr Jehu F. Sheridan and hits musical comedy company. For some time past Dunedin playgoers have be?u looking forward to the arrival of this combiuuti >n, aad now that it has come and been introduced it can safely be Btated that all the favorable anticipations formed regarding its merits were folly realised in last night's performance. This being so, the company should have no lack, of support during their stay here. - As set forth in the programme ' Fun on the Bristol' is a farcical, musical, and nonsensical comedy, but it is not of so light a oharaoter as to be ridiculous. It is brimful of fun throughout, as our readers who have seen the comedy at any of its previous performances in Dunedin will recognise, and at times the effect of its most amusing situations is to convolfie the whole house "with the heartiest laughter. No person with any sense of fun at all could repel the mirth that is continually rising within one during the progress of the play, and nobody short of a hypochondriac could fail to laugh hilariously at certain periods of the performance. The plot, which is a simple one, is doubtless familiar to our readers, and therefore it is unnecessary to narrate it. The principal character is that of the Widow O'Brien—a creation in which Mr Sheridan shines to perfection. From his first appearance on the stage to the fall of the curtain, he was irresistibly funny; in short, it may be said that he gave as laughable a rendering of the part as could be well given. The part is one which in the hands of a less experienced actor than Mr Sheridan is liable to be over-done, but with the gentleman named there 13 not the least suspicion of exaggeration or straining in any form. Mr Sheridan's conception of the part is exceedingly happy, and no one can find fault with it, and, tbis being so, his performance last night met with the warmest tokens of appreciation. His complete abandon quite carried the house away at times, and for his success he was again and again the recipient of the heartiest applause. The Irish brogue of the widow is given with full force, and her sotto voce remarks concerning her daughters or her visitors are highly amusing, especially those in which she introduces some local allusions very appropriately. In the song ' Mulligan's home-made pie' Mr Sheridan was most successful, and in the " Razzle Dazzle" duet the latest American craze—with Mias Gracie Whiteford he scored even a better success. The audience insisted on an encore in the first instance, and demanded a repetition of the second item, but Mr Sheridan announoed that it would be taken as a favor, on account of the length of the programme, if encores were not called for. Miss Whiteford, who makes her first appearance here, took the part of Nora O'Brien, and acquitted herself of it with an ease and grace that were Bimply charming. She is a very painstaking aotress; a firstrate singer, with a sweet voice of serviceable range ; and an accomplished and graceful danseuse. Her vocal contributions were rendered with exquisite taste, and her manner—notably in ' My little slate ' —was characteristic of an archness that is not shown by many comic actresses who vibit this City. Miss Whiteford was enthusiastically applauded for her medley and shadow dance. The remainder of the principal characters in the play were sustained as under :—Dora O'Brien, Miss Stella Tudor ; Bella (a servant), Miss Fanny Wiseman; John Waffles (the count), Mr H. M. Imaao ; Captain Cranberry, Mr A. James; Tommy Cranberry, Mr W. Bovis ; Bichurd Sparks, Mr Wilfred Carr ; Jerry Thomson, Mr C. Bovia. Miss Tudor proved herself to be another capital dansntse in the company's ranks. Her combat dance with Mr John Tudor was a very pretty piece of business, the limelight effects being capitally managed. Mr Imano sustained his part well, and in addition contributed one or two solos which were much appreciated, his moat successful effort being in the new song ' Because I love her so,' but in the duet ' My darling, when we are made one,' with Mr Sheridan, he was heard to better advantage, and the singers narrowly escaped an encore. Miss Beatrice Lor"oe, the possessor of a cultivated soprano voice, sang * Loraine ' very sweotly, and with Mibs Whiteford, Mr Imano (baritone), and Mr Wilford Carr (tenor) took part in the ' Excelsior' quartet, which was a very pleasing item in the evening's entertainment. Miss Nellie Arline performed capitally on the banjo, and showed that she is quite mistress of the instrument. Her fingering is accurate and true, and a feature of her performance is the manner in which she throws her banjo about, all the time succeeding in keeping up a perfect tune. The Sapphos' vocal ballet, in which Misses Arline, Trigge, and Austin took the principal parts, was an exceptionally pretty exhibition, the r.orpx de ballet proving very efficient. Had it not been for Mr Sheridan'd request respecting encores this item would certainly have been redemanded. The Bovis Brothers, appropriately dressed, sang ' The jockeys,' and in the accompanying dance they introduced some tumbling leata of more than ordinary merit. A word should be said regarding the orchestral music, which is throughout rendered in very fine style by a capable orchestra, under the leadership of Mr J. A. Robertson. The scenery, too, is admirable. It is by Hennings and Campbell, and the former's " Cabin of the Bristol" is so well set that it is almost on an equal footing with Campbell's " Deck of the Bristol by moonlight." The latter scene, however, is the better of the two, and reflects the greatest credit on Mr Campbell. ' Fun on the Bristol' will be continued till further notice.