THE SALSBURY'S TROUBADOUR

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 568, 26 February 1878, Page 2

THE SALSBURY'S TROUBADOUR

* Last evening a large audience con . > gated in the Masonic Hall to witness the performances of the Salsbury Troubadours, which have been introduced to the public of Oamaru by Mr. J. L. Hall. The company is genuine-—the actors incomparably excellent in their varied nilcK —and the singing sutlieiently good of itself to draw a full audience. The comedy, entitled "The Rights of Woman," is very appropriately said on (ho programme to be exquisite --at least it is so as the company play it. Who litis not heard of the (iourlay Family that years ago were wont to delight the people of this colony, and the little fellow whose versatility elicited opinions that, he would one day become a clever actor. These opinions were prophetical, for that little* fellow is now Mr. John Oourlay, the gentleman who played the part of Sir Andrew Hurley, Hart., in "The Rights of Woman " last, night. His interpretation of the part of the old Scotch baronel, who had never once been even within a mile of being ensnared in the meshes of any of the fair sex, and who had become a, cross-grained old bachelor, was natural and devoid of exaggeration where he, while residing at; the Crown Motel, Scarborough, complains to the pretty, fascinating widow the landlady, of the accommodation, and generally displays so sour a. disposition towards womankind that the frolicsome widow determines, upon having satisfaction, the acting of iMr. < lorn-lay and Miss M'Henry (the widow) is everything one could wish, and last night drew from all parts of the house unremitting peals of mirth. The way in which the landlady, after having determined to gain the stolid old Scotchman's affections, docs so little by little, inorder not to frustrate her object by shucking his sense of propriety ; the tardy manner in which the old fellow melts and gradually gives way to the wily widow until he is fairly caught, and utters for the lir.st time in his life words in his maudlin moments hetokcnuig all'eetion for a woman ; and the taunting of the widow when she has gained a victory in the cause of " 'The Rights of Woman"—we have never seen surpassed. The valet was impersonated by Mr. John Webster, and his Irishisms, and the expressions of his countenance were most, ludicrous.. Rut " Hatch work " was the most uniqueportion of the entertainment. If was generally thought that, "Patchwork" meant an ordinary variety entertainment ;: but. to the satisfaction of all, it was discovered to be a most extraordinary one. Of variety if lacked nothing—of humour there was almost redundancy ; but therewas neither a word nor a gesture that could be considered oven to approach I vulgarity by the most fastidious. ' ' hi

piece nukes no ]ii'ofi'ssii>n of possess,.y.{ a nloi : hut it is lirinil'til of sparkling silualioiis and vocal, music, with uncommonly pianoforte accompaniments. A plot won].! have spoiled the whole thine; : lxic.iU.su it would have deprived if of its. extraordinary incongruities. Mr. Salslniry, as Joseph .li.-llors-ni lion. Wallaek Spout ; Air. John (lourlay. iis IVter Tennyson Whittiur i\l '(Jl<>sky Short; Mr. John Websfcr, as Slral limore (Jul(with " daily I,hi! Tronlndour" on tin; brain) ; Miss Ulaliche ('on.-lli, as,

Anastasia Janausehck (irub ; and Alius; Nellie Al'llcnry, an Hetty Spider, woiv well matched. 'l'licri! was not oni> of. I horn who alone was not e;ood cin.UL;lt to, civili: roars of merriment. Mi.-ei Nellie. Al'llenry enacts throughout " I'atchwork " tin: part of a mischievous, frolicsome idrl. and ri;,dit well nhe does it. Tragedy burlesqued forms a prominent. feature throughout the performance, with m'Dl'.s inierspcr.scd liere and there. Alisfc M'Ucnvy, Al.iss Corelli, and Air. (iourlay :nv capital vocalists, and somi! of tin; opcraiie excerpts were artistically Hut the ballads were the most attractive of the vocal music, nofablv " All that (Hitters"' (by .Mr. (Jourlav),'" IVetty as a I'ietnrrt" (by Aliss Al'llcnry), and Air. (Jonrlay's uncommonly oood Scotch »randly snnir, "Half-past Ten." Air. Salsbnry's imitation of .IcH'ersonVi " Rip. Van Winkle " was really capital, as was. also his part, in the '• d'rand Mock Trashy' founded upon lite Closet Scenefrom .Hiimlct. We strongly advise everybody to mo to-ni:;ht, feeling sure thai, thev will'leave the hall, as we did last regret tin;.;' that: the eniertaininent has closed, and with a feeling ~f |,hank,s to Mr. .J. 1,. Hall, theomerprisiii"; theatrical iiiiiiw;'!')', for having yiven them no genuine, a. treat. To-ni";ln,'.s proe;rainme consists of the comi'dietta " This <hi.p of Tea" and the. extravaganza "'l'liclirookv'