THE CALIFORNIA MINSTRELS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4196, 1 September 1874, Page 3

THE CALIFORNIA MINSTRELS.

Last night thi3 company of Ethiopian Minstrels made their first appearance in Wellington, at the Odd Fellows' Hall. They had brought with them so good a reputatio* both from the South and the North, as well as from the other eide of the water, that a favorable reception was anticipated for them, numerous though the entertainments here have been of late. Few, however, anticipated that the-hall would be rushed as soon, as the doors were opened, and that before the curtain-rose there should not be standing room to be obtained. Many, in fact, had to go away disappointed, and postpone for another night the pleasure of making acquaintance with the Minstrels. This was all the more remarkable as the weather < early in the day was of a most discouraging character, and though the rain had cleared I away in the r course of the afternoon, the streets were in anything but a r favorable condition for pedestrians. The Minstrels justified the high expectations that : had been formed of their performances. Their concerted pieces in the first .part of the entertainment were all 'new here, and though if was evident enough that the minstrels had not escaped from the liability that attends artists in such a New Zealand winter a 3 has just been experienced, and that colds had been general and severe, they gave the highest satisfaction in their graver pieces, such as " Essie, dear," which Mr. Mavor sang with much taste and expression, and in " The Happy Days of Childhoood," in which Mr. E.' Ainery'a fine voice was heard to much advantage.' -Mr. Campbell has a powerful and remarkably good and resonant baritone —a voice that grows in quality and; strength—and his " I'm Waiting My Darling for Thee," was a gem—though we may mention incidentally that this is the first -*--»-,Jime Mr. Campbell has been able to sing for th& last five weeks. Mr. Rockefeller has'a swe&b and very expressive voice, with ; a most natural type, which ;he uses withtiMte; while Mr. Sutton and ;Mr. Kelly, to whom\chiefly the humorous part of the business, fallvvhave established a reputation which they welWustified last night. Mr. Kelly, as a " corner mart" s has always been in the best' sable company, and has ever maintained his' place a 3 ah original and happy humorist. He is well seconded by Mr, Sutton, Mr. Eockefeller, and tfte .company generally. Nor ,must the musicians be forgotten. Their part of the entertainment —and it would be- hard to say whether the small fiddles or the big one, the cornet, or the flute—most deserves praise-4-was ..simply admirable. Their were really beautiful. A quartette, "Th» "Vintage of Champagne" was charmingly J sung < by Messrs. Mavor, Rockefeller, Campbell, land Amery. So was Mr. Amery's solo, " Nil "Desperandum," which should not have escaped an encore. The comic business of the second part chiefly fell to Messrs. Kelly and Sutton, whose eongs and, double dances were extremely amusing. '"The Water-Melon Man " was anew trifle, in which one of Kelly's original dances was introduced. "First Hound for John" was not new, but ■was made very amusing'; and " Tricks upon Travellers" brought the entertainment to a' close amidst uproarious applause. In the course of the evening Mr. Eockefeller played a clever solo on the banjo, responding to an encore by an imitation of the bells' of Loudon. The entertainment was so well received that there can be no doubt as to the success of the company during the short stay they will be able to make in Wellington. A programme almost entirely new will be given each eveningj '