HERR BANDMANN AT WANGANUI.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2232, 23 April 1881, Page 3

HERR BANDMANN AT WANGANUI.

In the "Wanganui Chroniole" of 19th instant appears the following article, characteristic of the customary gentlemanlike behaviour of the " World renowned" tragedian. Yesterday morning Herr Bandmann, the actor, entered the publishing office of the "Chronicle" in a high state of excitement, and considerably astonished the gentleman in charge by informing him offhand, and without even saying " Good morning," that our critique on Saturday night's performance was a " d d lousy article;" that the theatrioal advertisement had been placed under Weston's " d d lousy dogs " (Weßten should comb them) ; that Wanganui was a" d d lousy town" and a " d d lousy fraternity." Herr Bandmann, in fact, proceeded to "tear a passion to tatters, to very rags," and was informed that ho would be given in charge if a policeman came in sight. He then left the premises somewhat abruptly. As we said of Herr Bandmann's Hamlet so we say of his foul language. The numerous differences in manner, intonation, and expression between him and other acknowledged masters of the art make it a very difficult matter to form a full judgment on the first performance, and we should have to hear his abuse a second or even a third time before pronouncing a definite opinion as to the foil extent of its merits. One point that struck those who heard him in our office was the comparative meagreness of his vituperative vocabulary. What he said was both energetic and comprehensive. Westen's dogs and the people of Wanganui were pronounced to be all d—d and all infested with vermin, and one or two other powerful expressions were occasionally thrown in ; but the exhibition on the whole lacked variety, ai.d scarcely equalled the best efforts of a bogged and benighted bullock driver. It must not bo forgotten, howover, that Herr Bandmann was giving expression to his sentiments in a (to him) foreign language, and his performance in high German—a tongue admirably adapted for the purposes of an infuriated man, and singularly rich in compound inveotive might possibly bo_ a more copious and finished production than that to which he kindly treated our publishing clerk. Bat, though Herr BaDdmann laboured under the above disadvantage, we can honestly say (again using the words we applied to his Hamlet) that he has evidently made foul language the subject of intense and elaborate study, and oan give it an artistic expression quite sufficient to lift the aotor far above the majority of those who have attempted the same role. We tolerate insolence and blaokguardly language from no one, and at onoe declined to do any more business with Herr Bandmann, and we now decline to oriticise any more of his performances or eccentricities either on the stage or off. [We hear that the "world-renowned "tragedian discharged his agent in Wanganui for refusing to endorse a lying statement in reference to the above article.—Ed. Globu.]