“FUN ON THE BRISTOL."

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7996, 29 January 1887, Page 2

“FUN ON THE BRISTOL."

Messrs Smith and Porman’s Variety Company made an excellent start at the Theatre Koyal last evening, by beginning their season here to a large audience. Nominally the programme of the evening’s performance ooui sisted of the farce “Fun on the Bristol;” but as a matter of fact that piece only served as a sort of peg on which was hang a really first-class variety performance, made up of songs, dances, acrobatic feats, etc, “ Fun on the Bristol ” itself was capitally played, and Master John Collins, as the widow O’Brien, was inimitable. The piece was written, we believe, for Mr John F. Sheridan, who played the Widow O’Brien in every corner of the globe, and was highly successful in it. Master Collins, however, is quite equal to Mr Sheridan,Tif the two actors’ performances here are to be taken as criteria. The other parts, too, were all well filled, and the incidental songs were well sung. Miss Laura Boberta, who has a capital voice, and a charming style, sang “Pretty White Lilies” and “ Money ” very well indeed, and was encored for each item. Encores, indeed, were the order of the evening, Mr Willie Ferman for “ Swim out for glory,” Mr Willie and Mias Bella. Ferman for their “ dancing statuettes,” Master Collins and Lynch for “Fogarty’s Fancy Ball,” were all encored. Similar compliments were paid to the boneless qnartet, who .gave an exhibition of the Girard style, and to Miss Bella Forman for her song .“ Hullo, Cabby,” in the first act. The sensational item of the performance, however, way “the Jinman rqoket.” A lady (who, by the w'py, is an excellent gympaat) is put in the muzzle of an eo'ofpioqa cannon, and apparently ‘lifted qff” ppto the: dome of the theatre, where §be is papgljt ip the arms of a trppezist. Tbja was highly gpocessfpl last night, pnd fairly ‘fbropght dojvn the hpuaej’ The performance as a whqle was one qf the best of the class that has been given jn Wellington. It ja highly amusing and nearly all the'performers ate very oleyer ; (he singipg js capita), apd (he step dancing batter as a whole tbap we have seen in any Ope company ip "Wellington ; and the whole performance, jp short, is one at which one can spend two pi three hours very enjoy, ably. Last night’s bifl will be repeated to. night, ‘Opd we predict a successful season foe the company.