C.O.B. QUEEN CAMPAIGN

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXX, Issue 8495, 29 July 1933, Page 3

C. 0.8. QUEEN CAMPAIGN

NIGGER MINSTRET ENTERTAINMENT AN ENJOYABLE PROGRAMME The once very popular form of entertainment, the Nigger Minstrel Show, was resuscitated on Thursday evening at the Academy Theatre when a company of about twenty Waihi entertainers treated a large and appreciative audience to a most enjoyable programme. The first part of the entertainment was devoted to the singing of popular plantation melodies, the company ir. circle formation and wearing the typical negro costumes, harmonising very finely in the choruses. The soloists all rendered their songs most pleasingly, while the instrumentalists, led by Mr W. Butler (Waikino), also acquitted themselves with distinction. Miss Una Upton (Waikino) was seen in some very effective tap-dancing, while the corner-men, Messrs H. Armour, W. Wotherspoon, E. Trembath and R. Urwin, all sustained their parts splendidly, keeping the audience in good humour with a cross-fire of comedy with the interlocutor, Mr D. McPherson. The concert portion commenced with a very tuneful overture rendered by Mr Nat. Mounsey’s orchestra, followed by the opening choruses “Sw|innee” and “Lindy,” sung by the com’pany. The soloists were Mrs C. Dillamore (“Nellie Gray”), Messrs R. Caundle (“Golden Slippers”), E. Trembath (“Virginny”), H. Armour ((Good Old Jeff”) and E. Rowe (“Poor Old Joe”). The male quartette (Messrs Chas. and Wm. Dunstan, E. Trembath and R. Caundle) rendered “Old Folks at Hoine” most effectively, the first part closing with that rollicking song “Little Brown Jug.”

A very humorous sketch by Mesdames Neil and Roberts and Mr j Armour opened the second part and was followed by two well-rendered recitations by Mr D. McPherson. The “Southern Snake Dance” by Miss Una Upton was encored and Messrs Trembath and Wotherspoon were heard in a laughable duet, "Don’t You Know?” An instrumental trio by Messrs Butler, J. McDonald and B. Rowe was well received and Mr R. Urwin amused greatly by bis burlesque impersonation of “Little Dot on the Petrophone.” A most amusing “Story Without Words” (the chicken stealers), hy Mesdames Neil and Roberts and Mr Wotherspoon followed and Mr Caundle was heard in two very pleasing vocal numbers, “Little Old Log Cabin” and “The Preacher Went Out Hunting,” Mr E. Rowe contributed two tuneful items, accompanyin - himself on the banjo, and Mr H. Armour was recalled for a delightful rendering of “Bananas,” the programme being brought to a close by a prettily-staged camp-fire scene, when the company harmonised “Love’s Old Sweet Song” and “Kentucky Horae, Good-night.”

During the evening, Mr G. Neil, on behalf of the Convent Old Boys’ queen committee, thanked those concerned for their very line efforts.