Amusements.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1700, 15 June 1874, Page 2

Amusements.

A man must servo liia tnio lo every trade savo censnver— ;■-.. .-.. ... Oritic3 .'ill are readi-tnado.— Byron. ■

ACADEMY OF MUSIC* Smith's Combination Troupejnadelhcir debut at the Academy of Music on Satuiv day night. There was a largo, not to say noisy audience, who frequently testified that they were not disappointed in then expectations of,an entertainment superior f to most of tbo .variety character TfVlxieh have previously visited the-town. ..Without indulging in hyperbole it may be said that the different artists comprising the troupe realised all that was pomisedi of them. The troupe are not mishaibed in there title "combination." There is^ variety enough to suit the. .tastes ; of all; the lovers of the sensational equally with: those who prefer something lip-lit and amusing. A glance _at' the 'programme, showed that the inanagemenfc; reserved ;tp themselves the right of altering the programme, and the first item, " overture by I the band," might have .suggested that very material alterations would be made, because the overture consisted of a set of quadrilles-~lhe band of a solitary pianist. This, however, was the only, deviation from the programme, and could be excused, because • the, audience were so, anxious for ihe real business of the evening that it is questionable if the best music, in the world would have been more than tolerated. Mr St. Vincent and Mdlle Moritebelio then presented themselves and sung the latest London comic, duets,. the style of which has been rendered familiar by Eickards f.nd others. However the artists were well received, and compared favorably with their predecessors in the. same line. Of this sort of performance it may bs said'that it is all a matter of taste, and that it suits tbe taste of a large majority of a Saturday night's audience nobody will deny. ..- The Dccastro youngsters with their parent and instructor next performed on theEoman;rings. These baby gymnasts did all that their elders have.dona before them cleverly and cleanly, and the smallest of the three'made quite an ira-, pression by his pantomime and business. Mr Val Vose the ventriloquist introduced his. friends in a very happy manner, and his dialogue, with John. Trott and~Betsy -an old lady of 103 — was j amusing in the extreme, Other characters were introduced to show the wonderful effects to be produced by the possession of the faculty of voice known as ventriloquism, and with almost perfect success. This-parfc of >-tl? ; e. performance was rather elongated, and; Mr. Val Vose would have spared himself and the audience by curtailing it slightly. 7lt was, however, the amusing feature of the evening. Of Mr. or Monsiur Airecjt is difficult to say which struck one most —his own nonchalance or the pecfection. of his ar. <v To describe the latter is admittedly [.difficult., Onf.a swinging trapeze, he apI pears to be as much at home as on terra \Jirma, -and his confident manner while going through a difficult—not to say dangerous- performance, any sense of fear for his safety which-' a beholder* might entertain. He seems like a bird onaswinging perch, apparently reckless of danger* The local song by Mr. St. Vincent was of course immensely - applauded. It was slightly personal; which may account' for its reception, but that line of business has been done to ..death,. here, and putting aside the question of taste in introducing the names of citizens in a theatre, it is doubtful if such a proceeding really adds to the popularity of an entertainment. The Decastro Family's .performanceson the carpet concluded the entertainment. Father, mother and three little' on&s '[ went' through a clever tumbling and posturing display. They are all clever, and the children especially very winning, making themselves favorites at once. . They are clean in th eir somersaults,, which they :do. from various positions on to the father's feet, arms and shoulders, and always with that neatness and. dexterity which show how assiduous they must have been to their instructions. The Combination.Troupe's, first appearance was decidedly favorable, and that may. be. taken as an indication that "their brief season here will not be an unprofitable one. .„■•; .-._•■= .;'■■.':?