THE ROYAL BURLESQUE AND GAIETY COMPANY.

Evening Star, Issue 9888, 27 December 1895, Page 2

THE ROYAL BURLESQUE AND GAIETY COMPANY.

The opening performance in' Dunedin was given last night in the presence of an audience large enough to fill the Princess’s Theatre. Downstairs, indeed, the accommodation proved—insufficient to meet thedeipaud. The circle patrons noted with pleasure that half a dozen large holes had been cut in the barricade, thus affording plenty of ventilation and at .the smne; time j ppm? use of the promenade for those who are satisfied to just look in at,,odd times. The company of which Mr Percy St. jJohn is the director makes a strong show numerically, particularly in regard to ladies, and must of them can both sing and idance,. plenty of oppor-/ tqnity being afforded in each vocation py the programme selected for last.night, this consisting of an extravaganza having.refe- . fence to the story of Cinderella. In an extravaganza it is not .generally considered necessary to give all the points of the story that is in hand for the occasion, nor is consecutiveness indispensable. The one important thing is to fill up the stage with bright and pretty pictures, giving as much variety as possible, and having everything done smartly. If wo are correct in this opinion, last night’s performance came up to the mark. The show was per tainly not lacking in robustness and spirit, nor was it slow, and the fairy tale was remembered at intervals, some of the leading incidents of Cinderella’s experiences being prettily worked up, as* for instance, the transformation scene, in which we saw a real pony drawing right into the kitchen a fairy coach in which the hetpipe of the glass slipper was driven away tp the ball. Amid the numerous “turns” that came in rapid succession last night, the one that created the most merriment, was by little. Addie Favart, a tiny girl who sings and dances in a manner "quite her own. Her song of ‘The Giddy Little Curate’ provoked roars of laughter, and the eccentric dance was redemanded time after time, until the performer had to stop through want of breath. The singing of Miss Blanche Wilmot, the fairy queen, also pleased; the audience, while the graceful skirt-dancing of Misses Coralie Barlow and Nellie Finlay, the versatile performances of Misses Ada Lempriere, Dora Busch, Emmie Martin, Bel Ponaonfay, and Lily Howard, and the fanciful antics of Messrs F. Carabourne, H. Stevens, and Percy St. John were not destitute of “ go, ” and the appearance of the Royal Ballerinas might have been prolonged indefinitely if the wishes of those in front had alone to bo studied. As specialties the company introduced Monsieur Frank Aboaaleh as the Turkish soldier in bis really clever gun-, spinning act, and a troupe of bellringers who can lay claim to more than average expertues?. These things were heartily applauded. It may also be mentioned that several topical songs and choruses were given, some of them evidently written up to dale by a writer who understands what is going on in Dunedin ; and two or three new London songs were likewise in the bill. One of those might be toned down a little without losing favor, and the comic duet by the mock sisters would not suffer by revision. No doubt the management will attend to these matters in the performances that are yet to come. A capable orchestra was in attendance under the direction of Herr Wilhelm Buschj and the dresses were pretty aud picturesque. ‘ Cinderella ’ is to be repeated to-night.