THE RICKARDS' COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 941, 14 July 1903, Page 2

THE RICKARDS' COMPANY.

AN ATTRACTIVE SHOW,

At the Theatre Royal last evening Mr Harry Rickards’ Vaudeville Company gave their first performance in Gisborne to a packed house. Every, item was encored, and the show was unanimously Voted to be the best variety, entertainment seen in Gisborne. Prom the rise to the fall of the curtain, there was not a dull moment, every member of the Company proving a thorough artist-. Libtie Eileen Capel, juvenile soubrette and dancer, came first on the programme with the song, “ I’ll Write It Down on My Slate,” which was capitally rendered, and the dainty Tittle maiden in response to an' imperative encore gave a step-dance in good style. Mr Bert Bradley, who has a tenor voice of good quality, sang “ She Was Happy Till She Met You,” giving as an encore, that popular song “I’ve Made Up My Mind to Sail Away.” A splendid performance was that of Clive, Australia’s great conjuror. He does all kinds of wonderful things with candles, pieces of paper, and billiard balls, aad “ shows how it is done ” in a number of card tricks. He also lights a lamp, covers it with a cloth .and then, shoots at ft with a pistol. The lamp disappears from the table, and suddenly appears hanging behind him alight, and not in the least damaged. In sleight of hand work, he is exceedingly smart, and the audience would have been better satisfied with more than he gave them. Time, however, forbade. Miss Madge Thomas, a soprano with an exceedingly sweet voice, sang ‘‘ Absence Makes the Heart Grow Ponder.” Miss Florrie Barns, who is a special favorite, was greeted with loud applause. She sang “ Gertie on the Go ” with great verve. Mr Wallace Brownlow, the well-known baritone was suffering from a slight cold, and last evening was his first appearance for over a fortnight, but this did not affect his voice much, nor render his singing any the less enjoyable. ITe sang with great success “ The Shade of the Palm.” The first half of the programme was concluded

with that laughable farce, “ Mr; Murphy’s Second Husband.” Thu lasted for about half an hour, during thi .whole of which tifne the audience wer< convulsed with laughter. Miss Grach Emmett, as “ Mrs Murphy,” with he; funny Irishisms, was the chief cause of thi amusement. Mr Le Bay Wunmer ap peared as Mrs Murphy’s Husband, Thf cream of the hospital.” Miss Frances Gray, as Mrs Murphy’s Daughter, and Mi Ben Miles, as the Husband, both played their parts well. By special request the farce will be repeated this evening In the second part of the pro gramme Miss Madge Thomas sang “Once” very sweetly. Little Eileen Capel sang “ Jim the Plumber,” and danced another breakdown, which was wonderfully well done. An old Irish melody, “The Old Plaid Shawl,’’ was Bung by Mr Wallace Brownlow, and his fine voice sounded particularly well in the sweet melody. For an encore he sang “ Believe Me All Those Endearing Young Charms,” which was equally enjoyable. Miss Florrie Barns was loudly encored for her song, “ She Is My Tiger Lily,” which she sang in her bright, sparkling manner. Mr Bert Bradley then sang the pretty song, “ Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes,” giving as an encore“ The Maiden with the Dreamy Eyes.” Messrs 3eeley and West, a pair of clever as well as comical musicians, played a number of popular tunes upon all manner of instruments. They can play anything, and not only do they extract good music from orthodox instruments, but they seem equally at home with the most fantastic inventions ever devised for the making of sweet sounds. It is difficult to say which most pleased the audience, their clever music or their mirth-provoking comicalities. Certainly heartier laughter has rarely if ever been heard within the walls of the theatre. The ebony unit of the talented pair had only to lift an eyebrow or perform one of his extraordinary facial grimaces in order ;o “ bring down the bouse,” and almost jefore the laugh had died away the people bund themselves listening to an artistic 1010 or an equally artistic duet on saxaihone, cornet, mandolin, or some queer ind quaint instrument presenting the outward appearance of, say, a pair of domestic lellows or an old gun. The company onclude their Gisborne season this evenag, when they should be greeted with nother crowded house. |