THE GAIETY COMPANY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 352, 9 June 1877, Page 3

THE GAIETY COMPANY.

The Gaiety Comedy and Burlesque Company made their first appearance at the Masonic Hall last evening, and succeeded in creating a more than ordinarily favourable impression. The company, so far as we can judge from what w« saw last evening, appears to be a very good one; more especially in burlesque. It includes a large number of singers of greater or lesser excellence of both sexes, while there are several really good dancers in the company. These two tilings in them- ■ selves are no mean adjuncts to the proper representation of burlesque, and with. Mr. J. L. Hall as director, some excellent scenery, and splendid dresses, the company 2 s able to place burlesques upon the stage in a style superior to anything previously witnessed in Oamaru. The company should therefore meet with the fullest support from our townspeople during its short stay here. The audience was not so large as might have been expected, considering the high reputation which Mr. Hall and his company bring to Oamaru ; still there was a very good attendance., and all present seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves—indeed, it would have

been difficult for the most confirmed hypochondriac to have avoided a good hearty laugh during the progress of the entertainment. With commendable punctually the performance commenced with the pleasing little comedy " My Turn Next," in wiuch Mr. Hall, as J Teraxicum Twitters, was the central figure of attraction. Mr. Hall, it is scarcely necessary to say, kept his audience thoroughly amused, and was ably assisted by Mr. Keeley and the other members of the company engaged in the piece. After this came the chief item of the evening's entertainment, the burlesque of "The Field of the Cloth of Cold." This was placed upon the stage in a most complete manner, and the audience were kept in a continual state of merriment by the funnyisms with which the burlesque abounds. We have not space to give a detailed notice of the performances of the large number of parsons engaged in the piece ; suffice it therefore to say that everyone di.l his or her level best, and that, in consequence, the bur-lt_-s<|ue was an unqualified success. A number of good songs and choruses were sung, and several members displayed to advantage their terpsichorean powers. The last scene—the tournament—was ludicrous in the extreme, the audience being convulsed with laughter during its progress. The scenery and incidental j music were both good. The same programme will begone through this evening.