JUBILEE SINGERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 47

JUBILEE SINGERS.

! The company of Jubilee Singers have been j accorded such a liberal amount of public 1 patronage that the management decided to extend the season for a -few nights longer. •Certainly the Btep was a wise one, for the attendance all through the season never "waned, and on Friday evening, when the "weather was of a sufficiently wintry character to offer the strongest possible inducement to rej main alongside one's fireside, the Beating accommodation was taxed to Euch an extent that a great many people had to stand throughout the performance. A change of programme was presented, and a departure was made from the character of the preceding entertainments by the introduction of operatic music. While it i«s in that class of music represented by plantation songs and jubilee melodies, which they have made peculiarly their own, that the members of the company .are heard to the best advantage, and from which, iv consequence, more enjoyment is derived, their interpretation of the operatic music/had. the charm of novelty which was

evidently appreciated. Some of the more popular airs from the " Bohemian Girl " were rendered — " The Gipsies' Chorus," " I dreamt that I dwelt," "The heart bowed down," and from "H Trovatore " "Home to Our Mountains " — and the' interpretation of the numbers was received with cordial applause. The audience, however, was much more emphatic in its demonstrations of approval of the different jubilee melodies and plantation songs, and most of them had to be repeated. The principal choruses were : " Keep me from sinking down," "The Lord's Prayer," " Good news- the chariot's coming," "Peter, goring dem bells," and " Climb up, ye children." Mr Eugene M'Adoo gave a distinctly commendable rendering of " Old Black Joe " and Miss ' Belle F. Gibbons sang -with success "My old Kentucky home," both being honoured with encores. Mr Jerry Mills, the humorist of the company, kept the audience well amused for 10 or 15 minutes, while Jalvan, the juggler, introduced a number of new sleight-of-hand and juggling feats, which were well received.

The succession of large attendances which has marked the Dunedin season of the Jubilee Singers is being well -maintained, and judging by the size of the audience which assembled in the Princess Theatre on Monday evening, thedecision of the management to extend the season for a few nights longer was marked by sound judgment. A noticeable feature of the performances all through has been tho extremely demonstrative manner in which, the audiences have signified their appreciation of the efforts of the memberß of the company. The applause which greets the numbers iB at times quite enthusiastic, and scarcely an item passes without a demand foo a repetition being made. Last evening's programme was composed of an entirely new selection of plantation songs and jubilee melodies, together with fresh solo numbers, and all of these were rendered in the peculiarly effective and attractive style for which the company is noted. The jubilee choruses which BCDmed to meet with special approval were " The band of Gideon," " Meet me at the gate," and " The Gospel train," and all of these elicited encores. The arrangement of Sullivan's "Lost chord," which has become such a favourite with the ■ patrons of the company, was again given, and as an encore " My Lord, deliver Daniel" was contributed. Other selections by the company were : " I hope my mother will be there," *' The Lord's prayer," and the glee- " Over the hills." Mr E. M. M'Adoo sang with capital effect " Rocked in the cradle of the deep," Miss Jeannie Robinson gave a particularly pleasing interpretation of " The Swanee River " (the effect of which was considerably enhanced by a chomp), Miss Susie Anderson sang "The Creole love song," and Madame M'Adoo rendered "Wooing of the morning." Each performer secured a full share of the honours of the evening. The rpcitation " Trouble in the Amen Corner" was capably delivered by Miss Belle F. Gibbons, while ¥r R. H. Collins scored a distinct suc-cess-in the coon aong "'Lily of Laguiife." Jalv<m again cave an exhibition of his skill as a juggler, and a fund of amusement was afforded by Mr Jerry Mills. An excellent night's 'entertainment was brought to a -close by the vocal waltz " Good night " (Motz), sung by the company.