KERSAND'S AMERICAN MINSTRELS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1481, 2 July 1912, Page 6

KERSAND'S AMERICAN MINSTRELS.

Babes have grown to manhood 6inC* Wellington was last visited by an allblack minstrel company of the kind which packed the Opera House from gallery to ground-floor last ovening. The last troupe was the Hicks-Sawyer Minstrels, a very capable organisation which introduced such noted coloured talent as Irving Saylcs, Charles Pope, Hosea Easten, and other gifted entertainers in the 6phero of American minstrelsy. Kersaud's Minstrels, which come direct to New Zealand from the United States, consist of a couple of dozen coloured performers, who hustle in a, rather businesslike way through a long programme'of songs, (lances, joke spasms, intersper.-ed willi a lew ejeains of concerted voealislu and specialties. Tho company is not strong vocally—a fact which created a sensß of disappointment—and there are no bright particular stars in comedy that can compare with those of other days. Still, t'huy are a brisk, agile lot in tlio eusemblc, more plain American than negro in speech and style, who manage to enliven a couple of hours pleasantly enough. Tho first part consisted of the time-honoured minstrel circle, the full company ; n 'polyglot dress, presided over by tlio interlocutor (.Mr. H.' Morgan. Prince), habited after the fashion of Beau Nash, with white-pow'dcral wig, satin clothes, and laoo frill complete, and a gaily-c-jstmncd baud of nine performers ranged across the back of the hinge. Each performer was gracefully announced with u decorative gesture by Mr. l'viue-i; and was well into his song before the applause had subsided. Of tho end men, Hilly Brown, of the mobile lips, is much tho funniest, and his song, "No 7*so Asking Mo," found favour. Mr. Ed. Tolliver is another comedian with a (try easy humour, which is better demonstrated in gag than in song. Mr. r. B. Poole, tho basso, sang of the "Lighthouse Bell," and Mr. W. nullify Spencer, a tenor with a (ouch of silver in the. top register, sang "Dearest Memories," with all attached quartet. \Jlr. Alonzo Bosan sang a verso of "Beans, and Mr. I'lince, a light tenor, sajig the bi-llad "When tho Trees Shed ' their J/Oiives," which number was embellished lather prettily with a nicely modulated quartet. Sir." Billy Kersand, announced as "the dandy of them all," rather fell short of tho descriptive introduction, inasmuch as his painfully slow methods l.ad a touch of pathos where humour vas intended. Tho last thing he did wun a stump speech, introducing the., names of Dickens's novels and many of tho characters known to fame in them. The second part was a distinct improvement on the first. Miss Leah Clark, a coloured lady with a strong musical voice, sank a ragtime, ditty, and the aeroplane stuff, "Fly'with Me," quite- attractively, and ill response to a ■ boisterous oucoro sailed over tho heads of those in the shill« in a. "property" airship gaily lit with electric, lights. It was the. best turn in tho programme. The Dahoniiun 'i'rio disported themselves riotously on bra-.s instruments, and gave an eccentric danoo Homo clever hoop manipulation earned applauso for Mr. V. Moppin, and Billy Brown scored a distinct success by his excellent foolery with the Kit. Comedy Fcur, who hove a nieo facility in harmonic vocalism. Mr. Arthur Maxwell Jid seme clever trick riding on a fafety bxyele, and finally a double quartet of coloured men opened an unexpected valve, and danced'and fooled admirably in an interludo entitled "Alexander's Ifagtimo Band," in which liilly Brown appeared once more as the chief funninker. The band of nine performers vas conducted by Mr. Atlrus Hughes.