The Minstrels

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 82, 30 December 1890, Page 2

The Minstrels

The Assembly Booms on Boxing night were packed to overflowing to "witness the negro minstrel entertainment given by our local amateurs in aid of the Athletic Sports and Orchestral Society's funds. The stage, when the curtain rose, presented a somewhat novel and remarkably pretty scene, with " Mr Johnston " seated behind an ornamental table in the centre, and the darkies on either side of him, while between each pair of chairmen on his right and left was a little girl in white, gracefully swinging overhead, and at the rear was a group of little niggers see-sawing on a log, the whole being surrounded with greenery, &c, and illumined with varied-colored lamps. The songs and choruses went so well as to call forth for each item the warm applause of the audience. In the second part of the entertainment the principal feature was the exhibition of strength of jaw bone given by the " Zulu chief Ainchuakuer," and the wonderful feats he performed need to be seen in order to be believed. The show concluded with a farce entitled " Burnt to a Cinder," and was highly amusing. There was a capital orchestra under the conductorship of Mr R. F. Haybittle, Herr Norberg leading with the violin, and Mr Hyde-Parker presiding at the piano. The same gentlemen also provided the music for the dance held afterwards, and which was very largely patronised. On Saturday evening the entertainment was again given with some variations in the programme, and concluded with the farce " Burglars in the House," which caused roars of laughter.