THEATRE ROYAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6016, 26 August 1887, Page 4

THEATRE ROYAL.

The Bellrin&ers.

After an absence of several years, the Lynch Jamily of Bellringers opened at the Theatre Boyal iasfc night to a good audience, asd it was at once evident that they had lost; none of their power to please. The bellringiug portion of the programme began with a quartette setting of "The Blue Bells of Scotland " with variations, in which the harmonies of the famous old air were most cleverly brought out. A quintette of the French national air, " The Marseillaise," and Cbo American "Star Spangled Banner/ were equally artistically treated. In the latter portion of the programme the bell itemv were Shattock's " Sweet Chiming Bells/ in which the ringers showed a really wonderful effect in crescendo and diminuendo passages, the pianissimo being very delicate, V 7 beautifully tuned, and the " College ikornpipe," about the best known of all Bi'* > J>d < vice music. In the latter, the difficulty ex? playing a very fast piece of music waa very cleverly overcome, and the number was most deservedly encored. Mr Hastry Lynch gave the audience quite a tr^t with his rendering of the aira of " Ah c!\s la Morte" (II Trovatore), and " Hornet Sweet Home " on the musical glasses, in , which the harmonies blended very perfectly, and selections from "Lea Cloches deCorne- ; ville," by Mr W. W. Lynch, on the clock j bells, and the "Last Eobb of Summer," ! given as a bell duet, by Messrs Harry and Robert Lynch, completed the Company's | clover " tintinabulations." JDuring the j evening Messrs E. W. Crome, and K. W. Oysfcon, contributed, as piano duets, a selection from Rossini's " Tancredi," and Blake's "The Shepherd's Evening Prayer/ in a very creditable manner, and t3ie latter player also gave Ketten's cejebrated j " Caprice Hongroise/' the prodi\ction ot which was somewhat marred by the item being played from behind, the drop scene. The vocal portion of the entertainment commenced with the rendering of Hutchieson's song, <? S'U Conquer or Die," by Mr Thomas K. GilpU\, in which he exhibited a clear baritone voice, of good compass and quality, to considerable advantage. The same gentleman also gave Roeckel's " Speed On " in good style, and later in the evening sang Amat's "Qui Vive," a song with a remarkably taking air, for which he very narrowly escaped a recall. Last evening showed the re - appearance of an old favourite in Mr J. C. Parlatto, and his comic song and dance, "The Dude," earned an encore for a very clever performance, and his yokel song " It's Only What I've Been Told You Know" was the best thing of the kind we have seen since Maccabo, and was twice redemanded, and he gained a third recall for a Dutch song and dance, "The Deutcher Girl." He was also, conjointly with Mr W. W. Lynch, very successful in a double sailor's hornhope, and again in a rare good song the " Good Old Times," in which two gay old fellows lament the good times they had when they were boys together. Messrs H., R. and W. Lynch sang a trio " The Hallelujah Band," in which the adventures of three gentlemen of the " Stiggins" stamp were set forth with considerable humour. An original farce " Five Shillings a Week/ in which the troubles of Mr Johnson (an irritable merchant) who requires several servants, but declines to pay to each more than the munificent sum above mentioned, are told in a laughable way, completed a really capital programme.