THE STEWARTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3352, 6 January 1879, Page 3

THE STEWARTS.

♦ , ' The Stewart Family attracted a large audience on Saturday evening at the Odd Fellows' Hall, notwithstanding the unfavourable -weather. An entirely new entertainment was submitted, the piece, which is from the pen of Garnet Walch, being entitled "If ; or an Old Gem Re-set," which, like the "Rainbow Revels," is simply a aeries of clever, and in some instances charming, impersonations, the whole connected by a slender thread ; and the quotation printed on the programme to the effect that there is "much virtue in it" aptly characterises the performance as a whole. The scene throughout is one of the rooms of a house in Paradise row, kept by Mrs Ferret, a strikingly natural representative of the London lodginghouse-keoper ; and here all sorts and conditions of people are met with, their chatting, siDging, and dancing being so thoroughly amusing that any incongruities of time and p,lace are altogether lost sight of. Eventually "four of these personages, Garge Jarvis, a Yorkshire coachman j Susan Tippings, the cook; Columbia Cornshucks, a j New Ye*k belle ; and Sarah Jane Muggins, the maid of all work, transform themselves into personages met with in fairy tales, and present the audience with Cinderella as "an old gem re- set." Amongst the more prominent items of the crowded programme were "The old and new hornpipe," danced by llr and Miss NellioStewait; "The Marquis' Medley," sung by® Mr Stewart ; the operatic selections by Miss Docj', who was also particularly good in the duet with her father, entitled " Recollections of T. P. Cook ;" the song" descriptive of the Union Jack and the Irish jig contributed by Miss Nellie; and the Prince's song "Save all your kisses for me," effectively rendered by Miss Maggie. To those who have seen "Rainbow Revels," commendation of the new programme is almost unnecessary, as there is between them a certain amount of resemblance. It may, however, be said that "If " will tend to render the Stewarts still more popular with the public. The same programme will bo submitted this evening.