HUGO'S BUFFALO MINSTRELS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2278, 12 November 1889, Page 2

HUGO'S BUFFALO MINSTRELS.

That well-known and ever popular purveyor of amusement for the public, Mr Charles Hugo, is paying: Ashburton another visit, and opened with the Buffalo Minstrels Company last night at the Oddfellows' Hall to a moderate house. The entertainment given was a bright and sparkling one, full of variety and novelty, being a melange of instrumental music, , ballad singing, comic songs, Christy Minstrel business, and extravaganzas, together with a very clever exhibition of ventriloquism. In the nigger business Miss Priscilla Verne makes a charming conversationist, and Mr Hugo as tambo needs no recommendation having able assistants m Mr H. Hastings second tambourine, and Messrs Oscar Smith and Moore as Bones. Mr Santley's songi " The Old Rustic Bridge," with accompaniment, was capitally given, and Miss Tessy Cleveland," who is the possessor of a contralto voice of great power and excellent quality, was tery successful m both her songs, "Come buy my Flowers" and "Could I call those bright times back," both of which were encored. Miss Emmie Dawson's best performance was the ballad, " Dear Heart," very pleasingly given with mandoline accompaniment, and Miss Priscilla Verne earned golden opinions by her bright acting and serio-comic songs, "I don't care," " I'm a Jolly little chap allround," e'c. The performances of the Spanish Minstrels (mandoline and guitar) were really exquisite and a genuine. pleasure to lovers of good music, and Mr Oscar Smith's ventriloquial episode was one of the best features of the programme, the performer certainly deserving the praise which, has been bestowed upon him, for he is without doubt the cleverest ventriloquist who has been seen, or rather heard, m New Zealand for many years past* A very comical feature was aby no means ill-natured and an altogether amusing travesty of the. Salyatipn Army,' and Mr Harry Hastings, also helped to make up an exceedingly varied and a capital bill of fare by his descriptive songs, "Cabby knows his fare," and" Shakspeare's Seven Ages." The Company plays again to-night for the last time, and those who wish a good evening's amusement they should take a.dvaiv. tage of the opportunity. 1 The* will get good value (or their money.