THE LYDIA KOWARDE TROUPE.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 152, 10 August 1881, Page 2

THE LYDIA KOWARDE TROUPE.

This tflenfeil company commence'] a short s< ason of two nights nt tbe Korestc's' Hn'l on Monday night, and notwith- < A a uliiiii thnt the we.itlicr w;is boistenniy m the ext'cni', a^d tbee tt;is an -incessant downpour (ifr.iin during the w'io'e nf tli.' 1 ivcninj-, there vr.-is nn ixc: r ail 'hoir r.'.'a" liir.'e nVnnb-r of tlie andienct' c(imi»rr f'oni the oiitl \ift rr disiiic's. The cnN r'a'mment opemd with Colu!'e's cck'l) ;itcd extrnva^nnza " I>oi»in.^on C<nsoe," with, of ennrse, ll'>Tvnrdr i i the title role.. Th > piece is. Iv'mV "f ludicrous s : t?T>finn's abnnnds '*i'h the choicest mnsic;d selfct'ons— both solos and concerted — the dbl-igne racy nnd 1 C'Nji. *x\& inntim ruble \,m\v\ — <rood, bad, an • ind'ffcr n' —^Te'scatfercdthrou^iion^ like plums, m a pudding. Those who havp t •ensured u« m the caslcet of thir memory the various incidents m the life of De Foe's hero, would no doubt, feel scandalised at the liberty taken hy tb" playriyht ,* and. find it hard to rcconciV \\ to their con*ciencc that Robinson and hidusky servitor were blessed with re <iesentatives of the softer sex on their i-land hotne.. In the former character Miss ITowafde appeared to great advantage — her sihgin;> being excellent, and hermnke up most appropriate to the representation. Tn the celebrated song " Sing, Sweet Ri'-d," »he excelled herself, that most difficult air being given m a manner which elicited well deserved applause, tbe trills being especially wo; thy of mention. Mr. Fisher was irresistibly amusino 1 , and Fang the character song of Broken Down" with very good effect, while bis eccentricities were most mirth provoking. As Mau Friday, Mr. Harry Power's personation whs an " immense feat," and a man with his pedal propellers .should, the a a great traveller,"' as he could manage^, .to cover such an extent of ground' at once. The other 'characters) wpre sustained most creditably by the Misses Nye, l^i^cent, and Andrews, all three contri-

butin^ largely to the success of the piece. Wo cannot omit to mention the song, "Awfully Awful," by Miss Vincent given with an espicglerie and vaivoic perfectly | bewitching. The entertainment closed with " The Waterman," the part of Tom Tun briivj sustained by Miss Howarde, in -which "she sung "The jjolly Young; Waterman," and " Fare ye Well, my Trim "Rnilt Wherry," and the " Bay of Biscay," all of which have been immortalise! by Pirns Reeves. Although, of course, thp place of honor must be. al-' lo'tod to Mi 1 * Howarde for her excellent siniriiKj ;i n(' acting, both Miss Andrews and Air. Power are Reserving of- the bi'jhct pmis.- in the characters of Mrs. kihl Mr. Bundle respectively. No one who suw'the lady iti the first piece could have recognised her as the tvran'cul and viraofo Mrs. Bundle, a part which she sustained to life. Last ni.^ht an amnsim burlesque upon Verdi's opera of "II Trovatore," and "Swis? Swains" formed the programme and elicited liberal f>ah'ohrt£e and \mbounded applsnse. Mr. Shcppardson, the manager of the Troupe, m forms us that the Company intend revisiting Palmerston m a short time,- and w<- feel sure the intimation "ill be received with p'easiire by those living at a'ffisfance who have been debarred from- witnessing their performance on the present occasion, through the inclemency of, the weather.