ENTERTAINMENT AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Southland Times, Issue 4140, 6 October 1881, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

-«. . We are pleased to be able to announce tliat the entertainment given last nif lit at tlie Theatre Royal, iv aid of the -Jricket Club ground fund, was in eveiy respect a most decided succoss. The audience was a. large and fashionable one, while the performers appeared to gi ve great satisfaction, and were indeed worthy of tlie applause that was liberally bestowed npon their efforts. Tiis first portion of the entertainment consisted of a concert divided into two parts, each being opened by a selection by the Garrison Band. Is il necessary to say that the perlonnances of this premier ' body of musicians were of the usual highclass description ? Mr Wilkinson caused' j iniicli amus.ment by his rendering of a* comic song, entitled " The Little German Band," and the audience would not be satisfied, until ho had repeated the last verse. A scene from " Tho Rivals" followed, in which Messra. Mehaffey and C. Harvey took part, and acquitted them- . selves very creditably. Thera were to be noticed in the vocal effort of** Mr McLeod some slight symptoms of' hoarseness, but otherwise his execution of the Bong, "A Free Lance am I," was satisfactory. The Misses Waymouth sang that delightful duet, "Te 'L Rammenti," with a precision sweetness of expression tiiat elicited quite a storm of applause, and they could not escape the inevitable encore. Mr C. Harvey's contribution, ; " The Harbor Lights," was a fairly successful effort, though it was wanting' in expression somewhat. In that pretty and favorite ballad, "In the Gloaming," Misd , Kingsland's powerful yet sympatheticvoice was heard to -jreat advantage, while Mr H. Feldwick must also be credited with having scored a success by his rendering of tliat fine old eon?, "I Fear no Foe," which he did full justice to. Mrs Mlssen sang " The Whistling Thief," wJiicb, 3 its whistling accompaniment, greatly " pleased and amused 'the atidienee. In respouse to an encore , this lady gave " Barney O'Hea," which was Bung with appropriate archness of exprts- * sion. The entertainment concluded with the well-known burlesque, " Bom bas tea Furioso," which wan well put .upon th* j stage aad very fairly performed. Air *. the King, Mr Mehaffey made up iis acted excellently. If anything he via., a little too heavy, but taken aa % m.O whole his performance left little to bei desired. Mr Wilkinson was in his element as Prime Minister, and his eccentricities at. times fairly convulsed the audience. Mr 'Fait sustained the character of Bombastcs, and achieved considerable success in-th*?-? part, especially in the duel scene. Th©| feature of the evening, however, w,as jin-^ doubtedly Mr Gurr's representation of tha character of the lovely Distaffina. Tbid ' young gentleman's cleverness as a frrhale impersonator is well-known, but <jxx this occasion lie quite excelled himself, 1 the love scene with the King being especially good. Indeed we must compliment the' •vhole of the performers upon the manner in which they acquitted themselves, every one sustaining the part allotted to him in a highly creditable manner. In ;cpn-.:i elusion we may mention that Miss Findlay played the. accompaniments ip, the first^ part of the entertainment, and Mr McL^ocl F the incidental music of the -burlesque— "^ both to the evident satisfaction of all concerned. Mrs Ross, whose name was do^ri in the concert programme, was unable to be present owing to a severe indisposition.