MERCURY BAY.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 61, 2 April 1873, Page 3

MERCURY BAY.

A COHSESPONjDStir.) Ok the 22nd ultimo Mercury Bay was visited by some travelling professionals, styling themselves the Mammoth Troupe, whose entertainment was considerably enhanced by the appearance and performance of Signer Ferrari's Braz'Uan monkeys—fuur in number. To say that the company were successful would be but. giving a faint idea of the reception they received from the inhabitant* of Mercury Bay. 'The entertainment commenced precisely at the advertised time, 8 o clock, and provoked an immense amount of applause and amusement—in mora ways than one, for it appears that, this clever company have had a great deal of difficulty in procuring a pianist to travel with them, so therefore have to depend entirely upon the resources of ihe several places they are visiting for their music. Mercury Bay, luckily for the Troupe, possessed a musician of the first water, a violinist, and who valued his service* at 30s for an hour's play. Consequently, the company were preparing "themselves for a grand musical treat from this celebrated player, who, by-the-bye, also offered his services to travel witA the Company. Well, the evening came, the performance commenced with a grand overture on the violin, and I was puzzling my brains to find what opera it was taken from, when all at once some one remarked that it was from that beautiful old Pea song, •• A Life on the Ocean Wave" Next on the programme was, Mr oromley in one of his characters, in which be sang, •' There's Life in the Old Boy vet," still to the violin accompaniment of " A Life on the Ocean Wave." Miss iSeillaon was next to appear in the pretty little song of •• Writ© Me a Letter from Home," and yet the same grand introduction the great musician of " A Life on the Oeean Wave," with perhaps a slight touch of " Barney O'Hea " and the " Mabel Waltz," but m spue of the difficulties Miss Neilson sang her song with great sweetness and spirit, and obtained a well-merited encore. Signor Ferrari's monkey, Jemmy, next presented itself on the trapeze, which seemed to astonish the natives j and, without exaggerating, it is really wonderful how bignor Ferrari has trained these clever monkeys to such perfection—the manner in which they go through their performance is truly wonderful. Our musical friend next played an introduction to something which I could not make out until the appearance of Mr Bromley in his celebrated character of Mrs Pattypan, and who wag almost at her wits end what sons to commence, for the musician was playing all over the violin, and no one could make out head or tail of it. But a change took place when Mrs Pattypan yelled out, " Strike the chord of G-, and play what you like afterwards," which the old slab did accordingly and the song of «* Drat them Rheumatics" was rendered by Mr Bromley in a very effective manner and to the delight of everyone present. Ihe whole entertainment pleased the good people of Mercury Bay immensely, and I am sure it will be in their memory for a long time to come. There was a very g-od attendance indted, and the public showed their appreciation of their talents by subscribing £3 or £4, more than the entrance money, because they thought that they had Dot sufficient to pay so good a company. 1 wish the company every success in their travels, and sincerely hope the violinist will soon get an engagement.