AMUSEMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 3127, 26 February 1873, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

rniNCESS THEATRE. The attendance at the Princess Theatre, last evening, was not so large as the quality of the entertainment deserved. The drama of “ Elfio, or the Cherry Tree Inn.” was repeated and spiritedly played throughout. The sc?nery, specially painted by Mr Willis for the piece, is appropriate, while the stage properties coincide with the design of the author, and make the mechanical effect complete. The management, however, while producing sensational plays, seem not to see the neces-ity of providing appropriate orchestral accompaniments. Without these, the best stage' representations frequently fall short of the effect intended, and fail to give satisfaction ei-her to the audience or the actors. On this occasion, the clover and careful acting of the company saved more than one sensational scene from being made ridiculous by the performances of the orchestra. Mrs Hill’s conception of the simple-minded girl, dependent on a wealthy relative, hut filling the office of a domestic servant, was as perfect as it was well portrayed. She won the sympathies of the audience from first to last, and was frequently and deservedly applauded. Miss Marion Willis, as Ilose Aircastlo, the chemist’s daughter, looked pretty, and acted with a degree of piquancy not hitherto characteristic of this lady’s performances. Her delineation of the part was devoid of stage mannerism, easy and pleasing, Mr Collier and Mr Douglas, though they had

parts somewhat out of their particular line of business, acquitted themselves admirably, and proved themselves versatile, useful members of the company. Of their ability we have already written. Mr Hill, as Sadlove, the Waxwork Showman, was humorous to a degree, and kept the house in roars of laughter, while Mr Milsgrave imitated the old man with judgment and accuracy. Mr Lystt-r deserves praise for the manner in which he played the part of Dr. Aircastle. On this occasion he certainly surpassed any of his previous performances. In like manner Mr Clinton, as the strolling artist, did his utmost to please, and succeeded. Miss Gassy Matthews appeared in an unimportant part, but delivered it excellently well. In short, the members of the company seemed to vie withjeach other in playing their respective parts, and the result was the presentation of an excellent and enjoyable entertainment well deserving of patronage. This evening the programme will be repeated.

CHIARINI’S CIRCUS,

The entertainment given at this place of amusement last evening certainly surpassed previous performances. There was less tumbling and more horsemanship, while several new items were introduced. The reserved seats and other parts of the tent were well filled with an enthusiastic and appreciative audience. As each daring act of horsemanship or difficult and dangerous feat performed ou the trapeze or tight rope succeeded each other, the demonstrations of applause became more and more complimentary to the performers. In the third scene Miss Amelia Bridges locked pretty while going through a series of poses on horseback, her movements and positions were graceful and pleasing in the extreme, though difficult to execute. She proved herself an accomplished equestrienne, and the applause awarded her was well deserved. A guauaco, captured on the pampas of Buenos Ayres in South America, followed, and displayed astounding agility in leaping over rails elevated to heights varying from four to seven or eight feet. A peculiarity in the action of the animal was exhibited by its bounding over obstructions from its hind legs instead o£ from all fours, as all animals of its class usually do. Perhaps this peculiarity was the result of training; however it was effective. The next performance, on the double trapeze by Miss Mille Grade assfited by a gymnast, was cleverly executed, and surpas-ed anything of the kind hitherto seen in Dunedin. After going through a series of evolutions, difficult, dangerous, and exciting, she eel psed the whole by falling from a sitting pose on the upper trapeze and hanging by her leg. Simultaneously with her fall her assistant, placed on the lower trapeze, rapidly threw himself from his perch, and in a moment both appeared swingiugin mid-air, the one by her leg and the other by a cord held iuGraeie’s teeth. The r e it may be pronounced the most clever thing of the kind seen in Dunedin. The equilibrium trick on a pyramid of bottles, performed by Mr W. Carlo, was gracefully executed ; hut it differed little from similar tricks already witnessed, neither was llnre anything novel in the magic barrel trick, by the Brothers Carlo, An .act entitled, “Grecian Sports,” in which a creole lady, named Theodoro Cuba, rides three barebacked steeds, was an accomplished feat of equcstiianism. The ease and grace with which she mameuvml the animals wi re admirable, and won deserved applause, while the conect action and precision of the animals displayed the superior degree of training to which they have been brought. 'The training qualities possessed by Signor Chiarini were, however, more fully illustrated by the performances of the horse “Garibaldi.” This animal (a handsome well-bred creatine) galloped, trotted, waltzed, walked, and limped to music with a degree of accuracy astonishing. He is certainly the best trained ami most intelligent horse we have seen perform, ami reflects the utmost credit on his trainer. Those who take pleasure in equine performances ought not to let the opportunity escape them of seeing Garibaldi. The remaining items of the programme, including an amusing equestrian scene in which Miss Bridges and Mr Holland acted the parts of lovers, were entertaining. Throughout the performance the clown caused much laughter by his comicalities, He is without exception the most clever trick clown we have seen. A n afternoon performance will be given today.