THE BELLRINGERS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1239, 7 April 1880, Page 2

THE BELLRINGERS.

There was a very good attendance at the Volunteer Hall last evening, when the Lynch Family of Bellringers and the English Combination Troupe gave the first of their performances in Oamaru. We have not space to deal with every item on a long and diversified programme, and we shall therefore content ourselves with speaking of a few of the principal items. Taking it altogether, the entertainment was a very pleasing one, though there were one or two items that might have been omitted without any serioua loss to the audience, and with positive gain to the reputation of the performance. Of these we may particularly mention the farce and the two comic duets "The Quaok Doctors" and " My Grandfather's Farm-yard," which possessed no attractions at any rate for the respectable portion of the audience. To say the least of it, the farce was positively indeoent, and the " comic duets" were utter tomfoolery. Then, we think Mr. Lyndhurst, the ventriloquist, might with advantage to himself and pleasure to the audience make, less frequent use of the name of r hia | Satanic Majesty and the vulgar term of liar.gg The company is one possessing a large amount of talent, and it is because we regret to see what might be one of the most popular travelling companies in the colonies degraded by vulgarity that we call attention to these matters, in the hope that for the future they will desist from pandering to a prudent publio taste, Of the bell-ringing we can only speak in terms of praise, and the audience showed their appreciation of the efforts _of the brothers by loudly applauding every item. " The Druid's March," from "Norma," "White cockade," "Fathep come home," "Elfin waltz;," and many other items contributed by the talented tintinnabuhators were all rendered with taste and precision ; but the most pleasing of the combined efforts of the five bellringers was the "Chimes, changes, and joy-bells," which were well calculated to bring to mind "Sweet chiming bells of long ago" in the Old Country. Mr. W. Lynch was loudly applauded for his rendering of hornpipe selections, bq| Messrs H. and E. Lynfili took the audi« ence by storm by their beautiful rendition of " Home, sweet home " upon the handbells, and a repetition was loudly demanded. Mr. Santley, who possesses a fine, but uncultivated, baritone voice, sang several very well, the of hi 3 efforts being unquestionably " The sea 19 England's glory," which met with the hearty approval of the audienoe: Mr. Lyndhurst is a capital ventriloquist, and for some time entertained the audience with his "Merry Folks," the only drawback being the use of, the words to whioh \VQ have already referrpdt BQaspgaes thg power of directing hia ' voice any' where, and of changing his tone and manner so as to suit different personages. The Chinese song and dance, by three of the Brothers Lynch, though old, m amusing without being vulgar, «\n<3( Messrs. W. Lynch and Lyndhurst ■syPVf* deservedly encored for thpir double nautical. Jiprnpipe. This evening the company will appear for the Becond time, and will present a new programme,