The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 140, 18 June 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1867.

The programme of the performance given by. the Nathan Troupe last night, included — in addition to the farce of the Omnibus, in which Little Marion displayed all her customary intelligence, vivacity, and love of fun, as Pat Rooney, and the usual interlude, a new burlesque, entitled Codadad, and supposed to be founded on some episode in the' Arabian Nights Eutertain- . n?ents, of which we confess we entertain . but a very hazy remembrance.- This extravaganza, which abounds in puns and jeux de mots of tbe most execrable descriptions, (a feature in which, we need hardly 1 remind our playgoing readers;- consists one . of its principal merits^) was, we are in- " formed," the production of a ' young j member of the Fourth Estate at Brisbane, ' and -has : been cleverly adapted to the ■V numerical /capacity of. the Nathan Troupe, ;:^t>y "Mr. vJ.'' Small.. Whether iwe regard ;K the excellent impersonatioa! of ■ib.e_\'di&eYv;or ths": /siyle in . which/

*he burlesque was "mounted," for the costumes are most tasteful and costly, we have bo hesitation in pronouncing it decidedly the best production of the kind which has ever been witnessed in Nelson. Of the plot we shall say little, for it is of the slightest, and merely serves as a vehicle for some smartly written dialogue, capital songs and dancing, and the usual absurdities -which constitute a successful burlesque. The scene ranges from a squatting station in Australia to the court of Sultan Diabeldr in Persia, and of course admits of the most ludicrous transitions of costume. We certainly have never seen Miss Selina Nathan to such great advantage; she played the truant Priace Fadladeen or Godadad with a spirit and abandon which evidently took the audience by surprise, and reminded us strongly of the colonial Queen of Burlesque, Miss Julia Matthews. Higher praise we could hardly bestow. Marion Nathan, as Lulu, the Prince's ladye-love, was very charming, and her innocent avowal of her affection was a delight. 'ul little episode ; in fact the tableau in this love scene between her and the Prince was one of the prettiest things imaginable, to which the rich and picturesque costumes of the two lovers contributed iv no inconsiderable degree. Miss Julia Nathan, as the Vizier, also rendered essential service, especially by her singing of several excellent travesties on airs from popular operas, the duet from Rigoletto being especially successful. Mr Small, as the Sultan, displayed considerable dramatic power, and also contributed by his voca] efforts in a very appreciable degree to the general success of the piece, as did also Mrs Nathan- who sing a parody on " Goodbye, Sweetheart," with such skill and sweetness, as made us regret that, we had become so lately acquainted with her power? in this particular line. Mr. Chambers was as grotesque as usual, and Mr. Nathan's two sous also acquitted themselves very creditably. The audience showed themselves fully alive to the various absurdities and atrocious witticisms introduced into the burlesque, and applauded a merveille. Indeed, when Little Selina, in her most naive manner, appealed to the audience, at the conclusion of the' piece for a cheer iv confirmation of its success, the audience responded con amoTfe, with the most hearty and prolonged plaudits. We earnestly recommend all those who enjoy such entertainments, to judge for themselves on this burlesque, which will be given again to-night. To-morrow there will be no performance. Little Marion's benefit is announced for Thursday evening, and we feel certain that it will require no inducement on our part to insure a crowded audience on that occasion. Mr. Feodor Kelling, one of the candidates for the representation of the Waimeas in the General Assembly, met the electors on Friday evening last, at the Agricultural Hall, Richmond, for the purpose of making a statement of his political opinions. Mr. Harkness was in the chair, and the mee'ing was well attended. Mr. Kelling, after alluding to his political connection with tbe district for the last twelve years, expressed an opinion antagonistic to Separation, and also to Provincialism, as being partial in its influence on the smaller provinces, and' declared himself opposed to the present burthensome taxation and extravagant expenditure of the , Government. Iv reply to questions put to him by the electors present, Mr. Kelling replied that he was favorable to a tax on wool and to the ballot, and it was then proposed and carried unanimously, " That Mr. Kelling was a fit and proper, person to represent the district of Waimea in the House of Representatives." At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, Alexander Robinson, "charged with drunkenness, was fined 10s. and ■ .costs; •■. '-■ '•■ _' ' • ■ •' , -■"• '■ >■•;;• ; .- - .' ■