THE CHRISTY MINSTRELS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 115, 2 September 1876, Page 2

THE CHRISTY MINSTRELS.

It is but rarely the Masonic Hall contains the number that crowded within its walls last evening to patronise our local Christys. Long before the rising of the curtain every available place in the reserved seats was taken possession of, and, as a consequence, many who had secured tickets for that part of the Hall had to rest content with a back seat. When the hour of agony Lad arrived, the gallery was literally packed, even the landings and approaches being utilised. The Club { must-, indeed, be proud of the patronage it has reci-ivecl. and if frequent and continued applause be an index that its patrons were not disappointed, the amount bestowed should be a convincing proof of the fact. The programme was very judiciously divided into three —instead of, as is usual, into two —parts, th* 3 brief intervals thus given being most refreshing breaks, waich in the crowded state of the [ build.ng were most acceptable. The first portion was devoted to t'.ie Christys proper—burnt cork reigning supreme—ootn the orthodox p on<ssand Tanioo being al>ly represented by Messrs. Hickey and Carncross respectively. The latter gentleman was throughout brimful of nigger eccentricities, and seemed as if to "the manner born." His corner jokes had not only the merit of but his mode of retailing was vastly amusing and telling, abounding with racy wit, dry humor, interspersed with local hits. Although Brudder Bones made one or two good points, which were duly recognised and appreciated, yet a great many were somewiiat misty, and others rather ancient. Of tie former class was the conundrum about the weekly Melbourne paper and the Lost Relation. Even at its best, it is lr.it a sorry joke, but in the hands of Bones it got frightfully mutilated. The audience evidently were of this opinion, as they "lest tiie relation" between the eon. and the joke, for, although Massa Johnson, like a skilful general, allowed a considerable time, so that the point might be apparent, it didn't take, and the laugh was conspicuous by its absence. Of the sentimental songs, the " Driven from Home " and " iSellie Ray " of Messrs. E. and G. Booth were decidedly the cream of the entertainment, the latter gentleman being especially worthy of notice. His sine, ringing tenor, clear and distinct as a b. 11, was admirably litted for the plaintive me'ody, while the feeling manner in w.:ich it w;us rendered secured him wellmerited i.pplatise. in the matter of c.iorases, the tro.ipo was as near perfection as possible, and there is little doubt that in this feature of minstrelsy lies their greatest strength. In these also the powerful aid rendered by the Messrs. Boot 1 was most observable, tiie falsetto of Mr. G. Booth being plainly discemable throughout. We happen to have listened to most of the bist companies in the States—not even excepting that in which the originator of the Christys and the Father of Negro Minstrelsy, poor George Christy himself, acted as leader —and we en safely say tiiat the choruses of last night would have left even him little to find fault with. Mr. Hannah .secured well-deserved applause for "Twinkling Stars," and " Carry the News" brought the first part to a conclusion. Before closing this portion, however, we must allot a word of praise to Mr. Corliss, who acted as "Massa Johnson " a position fur wh'c'i he was admirably adaj)ted. Te " n.i.ldleman "of a nigger troupe bears exactly tiie same relation to its members which a ring-master does to a circus. If he be no :■ up to his duty, the jokes of Bones, or the mistakes of his rival fall " flat, stale, and unprofitj able,*' and it is by the adroit way in which I he repeats tae questions that the audience I generally receive the key. Tins Mr. Cor- | iiss evidently understood, and if any "shot | missed lire " last night it was not t.ie fault I of Massa Johnson.

Tiio curtain ros-j on the second part to a political speech from a Mr. Fredericks, who, it ha.i been announcjd, was a candidate for the j versiiy of knowledge be a qualification for the position, Mr. Fredericks can indeed advance strong claims, for in the course of lii.3 remarks the speech touched up geology, clmmistry, astronomy, and phj'siology, w!iile trigonometry, geometry, and gastronomy were so woven together as to resemble a piece of Mosaic. For our own part, -'. e confess we did not think much of t le gentleman, being unable to strictly follow the thread of his discourse. The l great Constitutional changes were totally j ignored, while the inky orator worked i himself up to sublime grandeur in his • peroration over the interference with the : liberty of the subject, as exemplified in ■ the person of Ned Hudson's assinine pro- ' perty. In fact, to such a pitch were his | indignant feelings wrought, that it was ■ not until the cmt-iits of a washstand jug i had been applied that hi 3 fiey ardor was : cooled, and he was ablj '' to resume his subject." Judging from the vox popvli, were the appointment to be settled last evening, Mr. Fredericks could have given any competitor a distance, and still win, '• hands down." At the conclusion of his harangue, instead of the usual sigh of relief accorded to the departure of less elorjuent orators, the audience became frantically vociferous for a '' second edition," and he was thus accorded the honor of the only encore of the evening. A duett by Messrs. Hannah and-Booth was the next item, followed by an amusing sketch which served to introduce many digs at the local Municipal Council and Waterworks. The " Village Blacksmith," by Mr. Lees, brought the second part to a conclusion, and as the curtain fell those present testified unmistakably their appreciation of the manner in which he had acquitted himself. The entertain-

ment concluded with a most amusing farce, in which Mr. Carncross was the lion. He was the life and soul of the piece, and from the time he made his appearance till the dropping of the curtain, managed to have full power over the risible faculties of the audience, sending them home well pleased with themselves and their night 's amusement. Taken all through, the entertainment of last night was the most succ?ssful of the class that has taken place in Oamaru, and we trust that it is but the inauguration of a series that will not only be as highly amusing to the public, but prove as beneficial to the objects for which they may be given, as did that of hist night. We cannot conclude fiis notice without referring to the able services rendered b_> Mr. J. G. F. ; :ich at the piano. The acei>;i>paiii:!ients were excellently played, an I assisted the singers very materially.