THEATRE ROYAL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11354, 12 October 1899, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

STEELE-PAYNE BELLRINGEBS. A good house greeted the re-appearance of the Steele-Payne Bellringers at the Theatre Royal last evening after a lapse of several years. Since the occasion of their last visit to Napier the company have toured through England and South Africa, and that the popular and high-class character of their entertainment has in nowise, diminished was abundantly evidenced by the hearty appreciation of their audience last evening. A varied programme of vocal and instrumental items was presented, and encores were so numerous that the programme was almost doubled. The selections on the handbells were " Killarney," "Carnival de Venice," "Two Little Girls in Blue," "Old Log Cabin," "Belle Mahone," and " Massa's in do Cold Ground," all of which were splendidly played and deservedly encored. The " Carnival de Venice " was a particularly fine item. Miss Lizzie Payne played a violin solo, "Blue Bells of Scotland/ most artistically, and in response to an enoore gave the rollicking air, "Ws Won't go Home till Morning," in a humorous manner. Later on Miss Payne made a great hit with her song, " The Tin Gee-Gee," to which " I've got him on a String" was sung as an encore. Miss Payne also gave two selections, "Old Folks at Home " and " Nellie Gray," on the sleigh bells, both pieces being excellently rendered. Mr Balph Steele sang " Sons of the Sea," assisted by his little son, and the martial air with which this tiny marine strutted his quarter-deck and sung the chorus of the song, evoked a very enthusiastic encore. Mr Steele's other contributions were "Fancy Meeting You" (encored) and another humorous item, " Four Fingers and a Thumb," which was also re-demanded. Mr Steele also took part with Miss Payne in a " Toy duet," and with Miss Kate Maher and Mr J. Williams, in the "Gipsies Laughing" trio, which had to be repeated. Miss Gertie Bromley sang "I May or May Not," and received the inevitable encore, to which she replied by singing "In the Month of May." Miss • Bromley also played seleotlons'on the glassophone, and in that line has had ne superior. An encore item was equally as well played as the first selection. Mr J. Williams, thq basso of the company, sang " The Diver," and as encore " Kecked in the Cradle of the Deep," an even better piece than his first solo. The remainder of the programme was made up of plantation melodies and popular airs on the mandolins and banjos, and part Bongs by the oompany, all of which were exceedingly well rendered. The company is certainly one of the best of its kind that has visited Napier, and will doubtless attract even larger houses for the remaining two nights of their season. To-night a complete change of programme will be presented.