SMITH'S COMBINATION TROUPE

Otago Witness, Issue 1188, 5 September 1874, Page 11

SMITH'S COMBIN ATION TROUPE

Tlu> Prioress Tlic.itre was Veil filled Jnsfc Mnndav, when tlu; long looked-fnr English and fonrini'nlnl CViiihinniion Tjonpe submitted ibeirfiixt proclaim,,.' t<> H K . general public of Duncan.- - s we nntiVipnv.l fnnu tlmli'imthencd '■vpeii-'iice of ?»Ir J. "V 7. Smith ;t s S \ manasrer, and iiKo from th" Colon! il ropoi fa, the Troupe is leallv a firjfc oh'- a noinhi'iation. He may iinlmi he ciiifcnitu'iitr-d upon this giout hiiorev; which 1i...j .iltund.-d thuir fii^fc ontoiiaiMmoit hern. Tlie }uo^Mimmc comniPiiccd with soim> new Loniion s])"i!i.ili!ii-i, entitl d " Lovo Making' ?.. tj^nrt Bivaking,"l)y Mr ftt. Vincent and Mdlle MontcV'lli). 'jho ducttisls. who were in fwcelk-nt voico, ititinduced a number of well-known melodies. Aftei various jnopnsals fora trip to the M>a sido, thpv finMiPtl up with datiein" in i, u imi»ii!iiry luIL-onir. Tli >v curied Uienmlience with tlu-in t!ii'f)u»hout, and on coiicln ling were entliu-!,i<.ii.':ill- onoond Mr fit. Vincent s>ppi'iirtdin rpspons", und ivmnked that the duct .Millie. MontebJlo and h(5 had ju.it sunhaviiiQ I'ocii a heavy oiip, lie would, if they thought it dos.ii a'olo, have much pl-asnre in subscitutinc: a song. Tne anaooli in.-t with gen.ml iipproval, and Mr Sfc Vincent; .Sitng one of bis own lx'wnt composition-,, entitled •' Jh- Fox and the Barmaids tinder Thirty Years of Age," This was followed by somo iviimr" alily clever acts on fhe climM" ioj)es by tho lightly tonncd Little Wondeis «f the Be Ca-.tro P.unilv— Young Eivl.md, aged 0, and Aiherto, ok .yems-wfio displayed perfect confident;- m the 'most dangeious j-Osition.s, and were vociferou-.lv applauded. Tliey weic honoured with a recall. Instrumental mu-icis seldom sufficiently iecngniv.l, hut the jiiis from Scotti-.li AlinstroKy on th- Welsh harp, l»y Prof. Saunders. KA iU., weie sweotlv given) and called forth m.uks of admiration. Perhaps the most novel and interest ins; itntn on the programme was the cctr.ioidiuarv <H.spl.iy of power i i>y V,i v<wo, wlio is, enlitl-d "the Pivmi.-rVeu-triloq-iist of J'hijjland, and the gve.ite-.fc manipulatorof the human voico oxtdiit." The quaint figures of Johnny Trotter, Mrs Brown, ami others, excited a deal of interest. The ]att°r was made to say, in converging with Val Vose and Johnny Trotter, that sh« was 10: i yeats of ago, and in love with a certain gentleman in the boxes. Iho remarks by apparently different voices were most amusing," and the ventriloquist was sucee.-sful in impureeptiblv throwing his voice to vaiious parts of the Theatre, notably under the stage and on tho roof. The plaintive song ''Father, come Home," was remarkably well given, and the laughter and applause wore unbounded. Val Vose was honoured with a recall, and ho bowed his acknowledgment. The performances on tho aerial and gymnastic rings by the master gymnast A. do C.is'tro, and Young England, "lberto, and Annette, were indeed clever. Those of the diminutive acrobats wpre most intensely w.'tched, as it was generally thought they had m'hor too much to do The Ot-nt .'\iiec v, ho is suruained "The King of the Air," appeared in his great act on °tho auiovolanto Ho soe-ned to luve pc: feet command of tlip tiwprM; at one time sailing aiong on his feet, th-n on his kn^s; and finally, do.scribing a oil do with thu tr.ippzo, he advanced without touchi- g tho rojto with either hand. Aftor pei forming various evolutions, ho brfcly iTgjiin-'d the stage, jind was lotidlv apphvided. 3lr «-.. Viiiwnt sang a parody on " TJnil.liupf Cistlcs in tlie Mr," and upon being encored he substituted " Just BJiind the Scenes." Both were composed by the singer, who ovidently made a fivourable impression. TJie enti;rt,iiiinient concluded with some clover performance* by tho Do Castro Family of male and fen.ale acrobat*, in which Madame Do Castro appeared, Tho various evolutions excited much admiration, especially those by the younger members.

What is the difference between the top of a monument and a song for o»§ voice ?-■.< 9ae> so Jjjjjh. and ih© ether's epi#