THEATRE ROYAL.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1790, 28 September 1874, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

• Another proof of the appreciation of Thames audiences for really good entertainments was afforded on Saturday night by the bumper house at the above place of amusement to greet the Californian Minstrels, every portion of the theatre being crowded, except the stalls, which were not filled to. such an extent as they might have been, although liberally patronised. The prestige of the Minstrels was well sustained by their initial performance at the Thames, every item in the programme being rendered in a manner which clearly showed the performers to be entitled to their designation of " star" artists. The " chair" business was not too long, and the selections were admirably chosen. The vocalisation was perfect, and the funny interpolations by the corner men much above the average of minstrel witticisms, Messrs. Kelly and Sutton sustaining their reputation in this line. Mr. Eockefeller's banjo solo,, which was a novelty here, elicited a demand foran encore, which the executant accorded, and received for it well merited applause. The whole of the performance was one which the most educated tasto could fully appreciate, but we must defer individual notice till a future occasion. The comic sketches were, if not new, invested with novel features, and rendered with such a conception of humour on the part of the actors as to be perfectly irresistible by the audience, and the consequence was aching sides with many. During the week the company will give fresh evidences of their cleverness and versatility. Their part singing is most perfect, and all lovers of good music, admirably rendered, should see and hear the minstrels for themselves. We can accord the Minstrels unqualified praise, because although a Saturday night performance sometimes is a temptation to public performers to overstep the strict bounds of decorum, there was mothing of ihe kind noticeable in the Californian Minstrels' rendition of their parts. Everything was in perfect good taste, and a portion of the programme was of a high class character. A successful season will likely reward them for their visit to the Thames.