RICKARDS'S VAUDEVILLE COMPANY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12393, 1 July 1902, Page 6

RICKARDS'S VAUDEVILLE COMPANY.

A hugo audiencokcompletely filled t'lo Piincess Theatre last evening to witness the opening performance of Mr Harry Rickarda'e Vaudeville Company, and it may be said at the outset that the entertainment provided appeared to (Mnplotc'.y satlslyand delight all present, and the success of the combination ehewhero is quite intelligible and justified. Vaudeville certainly appears to have a very strong JioM on colonial audiences, and without discussing the desirability or undesirability that it should be 80, the present company afford a typical illustration of this class of entertainment at its best The " turns " arc bright and varied, tho changes frequent, and there 1b no delay, Surely in such an entertainment there must be a deal to suit all tastes. Tho present company is perhaps less one of "stars" than was a powerful American combination that visited Dunedin recently, but the level is high n»no the less, and in two instances the present company can easily claim precedence, for, odious as com-, piiritons are said to be, they are often sources of information. Naturally the great' Attraction last evening was the much'-talked-of and muchexpected Cinquevalli. On tin programme ho is described as " L'lncomparable," tho greatest, juggler on tho face of the earth. In tho facc of his performanco tlio title is admittedly an apt one, and whether the statement mado above is true or not there is no effort required to make 0110 believe it. Ho is of a certainty the greatest that lias visited Dunodin. More vociferous, spontaneous, and unbounded, npplauw than the juggler last evening evoked could not liavo been desired by any artist. Cinquevalli is a juggler beyond criticism, but it is juggling pure and simple that lie exhibits. One must not go expecting to sco tremendous feats of black mjgic. There aro no sealed trunks with innumerable padlocks; thero is no livo stock; there Is not oven a pistol discharged. Thcro is quite enough to be seen, however, to engross the rapt attention of the audience for over half an hour. Cinquovalli's apparatus consists of simple, everyday articles, such as a top-hat, an umbrella, billiard balls and cues, a bottle, a cannon-ball, etc, The nature of the articles, however, only serves the more to throw into relief the wonder of the artist'* power. Cinquevalli fairly astounded his watchers. To give an adequate idea ot his numerous feats would hp impossible, nor in tho telliiiß would their quality be conveyed. Thoy must be seen to be appreciated. The power above others that he seems to possess to such an extraordinary extent is that of balancing. He seems to defy the la»3 of gravitation. He will balance a, couple of billiard balls 011 the top of a cue, which lie will again balance on two more billiard balls that he will balance on bis chin, anil in this comfortable position ho will cheerfully juggle the while with other balls, He has the billiard balls flying around him in tho most bowiideringly obedient manner, and dropping whorever M desires. Billiard cues describe citdes in the air, and land ono > after another on his chin, and even a piece of tissuo paper is balanced 011 his accommodating nose. Perhaps liis most difficult feats, however, were in conncction Yfilli a cannon-tall, mw to weigh 4Glb, and which in his hands took on all ■ tho giddy lightness of a billiard ball passing from hand to hand and elbo\v to elbow, and running all up and down and round about, the juggtcr like a thing bowitchcd, being finally thrown high into the air and caught time and again 011 the nape of'bis neck. An agteoablo factor about his performance is that there is not ft word said. By dumb show tho performer makes perfectly clear exactly what he is doing or about to do, and another feature about it i» its humour. Cinquevalli is a'humourist, and 80 is liia very capable assistant. Cleaner, moto rapid, or more accurate work than Cinquevalli fl could not bo looked for, but time and again tho andienco aro convulsed by tho ludicrous attempt of the apparently horrified assistant to avert a catastrophe that does not take place. The second "star" artist of tho company is Madamo Lydia Ycamans-Titus, who quickly put herself on the very best of terms with her audienco and stayed there, Her turn is ft decidedly novel one, consisting of a species of Jiigh-cJnss travesty for the most part. She has an exceedingly pleasant light soprano voice moreover, and delighted all with what singing she took seriously. In. her imitations she showed herself the possessor of unusual versatility, being applauded to the echo for her representation of tho little girl singing and forgetting her words. This was certainly the gem of her efforts, and the Italian opsra singer was not fjr behind it.. Madams was tscsllsd,

time alter time, and her performance wai Msuted by a capable musical accompaniment by . J* Titui. Mis* XiU Leclc, the contralto vocalist of the company, has a voieo of considerable power and good quality, and made a favourable jmpressico. oho aang nor solos with taste and feeling, and these Veto well chosen. Much the same ma* 1» said of Mr James Opif, who lias a gon3 baritone voice that should bo capablo of still further 'improvement. Ho was recalled lor both his solos, the best of which was "Tho Friar of Order* Crey." The Diamond Duo proved, to bo two uttractiveJooking younj? ladies, who sang duets, phjrd on the banjo, and danced, aud all with a. great deal of acceptance. Their turn was a particularly bright one. One of the best musical items of the entertainment wan that provided by Professor Charles Wriglcy, who gave a nurabor'df selections OH tho saxophone and clarinet, which were much enjoyed. He proved' himself » brilliant executant on these instruments, and (perhaps unfortunately) suited his selections to tho popular taste. .Mr Charles Walker, a coloured comcaian, did some.clovor funny business, and gained favour with his comic songs • while Miss Ida May, tt coloured lady, showed hereoU to lie a coon serio-comic of-talent and good voice, rendering her songs in such a way that they went straigltt to the heart of the pit. A vontriloquial act that is very much 'above tho average is introduced by Mr Charles Colby, assisted by Miss Alice Way, and is a. very strong item on the programme, which ii all round ono of exceptional strength, and, judging by its reception last evening,' will continue to find favour during tho season. Tho orchestra is up to its work, if Tather loud at times last night. Tho entertainment will bt repeated this evening.