THEATRE ROYAL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 925, 12 June 1877, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

THE GEOEG-lAS. The Georgia Minstrels are to be congratulated alike upon the success attending their opening performance and the large and enthusiastic audience which greeted them, they differ from the many troupes we have had here, in that their humor comes as it were naturally, and is redolent of the raciness of American witticism. There is no straining after effect; every point is made as it were without an effort, and yet with twice the force of the jokes of an ordinary minstrel troupe. The voices harmonise very nicely indeed in the choruses, and are particularly effective in those plaintive ballads which are so thoroughly characteristic of the African race. The instrumental portion of the entertainment is not the least attractive, the various members of the troupe forming the band being thoroughly skilled musicians, and capable of producing excellent effects. The Georgias differ also from other companies of minstrels in so far that they double their forces on the corner. The corner men proper, Messrs Crusoe and Wilson, have a reserve force in the shape of Messrs Mills and Brown, and they most ably support each other. The fun is fast and furious, and is never allowed to flag. Mr Hicks, the interlocutor —for the troupe discard the traditional Johnson—is well fitted for his part. His repartee is good, and he has the merit of being distinct and clear in Ins enunciation. One thing noticeable about the Georgias is that some little time will elapse in order to get the audiences accustomed to their dialect, which has the true Southern ring about it'. Last night a great deal of the point of their fun was lost from this cause. The programme opened as usual with the chair business. In this Mr Hicks decidedly took the palm. He possesses a very sweet tenor voice of good quality, though light, and evidently knows how to use it. He sang “The little log cabin” with much pathos and effect, and being encored sang with much feeling “ Massa’s in the cold ground,” which though an old air, was yet rendered so excellently as to receive quite a ovation. Mr Matlock, the baritone of the troupe, lias a very nice voice, though he appeared to be suffering from a cold. His song “ I’ll always be your friend ” was nicely rendered. The items allotted to Mr Brown and Mr Bowman wore capitally sung. Of the funniments of Messrs Crusoe and Wilson, aided by their coadjutors, we can only say that they were laughable in the extreme. The antics they go through and the remarkable grimaces indulged in by them must be seen to be appreciated. The sketch of “ Bones’ Baby,” by Messrs Crusoe, Wilson, and Sanders is one of the most mirthprovoking we have seen for many a day. In the second part, which was announced as an olio, Mr Hicks sang “ Houseless and Homeless ” with much success, and Mr Easton’s banjo solo was also good, especially the intricate variations in “ Home, Sweet Home.” In dancing of the character made familiar to us hy Charley Wallace, &e, the troupe is particularly strong. Messrs. Mills, Keenan, Brown, and Morton, who are dignified with the name of the big black four, being wonderfully clever exponents of the poetry of motion. Mr Crusoe’s lecture “ On what to do -with our girls,” was most amusing, inasmuch as he harangued with much eloquence for some quarter of an hour without solving the knotty problem. The other items on the programme were excellently done, and generally the Georgias arc well worth a visit. They appear again this evening. The doors will open at seven o’clock during the stay of the Georgias.