"Fun on the Bristol."

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 25, 9 August 1887, Page 2

"Fun on the Bristol."

An excellent house welcomed the appearance o£ the veteran comedian, Mr “ Johnny ” Hall, and his company last night at McFarlane’s Hall. The dramatic fare provided was the popular American absurdity “ Fun on the Bristol.” The Bristol is a large passenger steamer, and we must say that if our Union boats witnessed such carryings on as took place on her last night) Voyages ia them would prpve an excellent antidote to melancholy. There is little dramatic construction about the piece which merely serves as a convenient vehicle to display the versatile talents of the members of Mr Hall’s clever company. Songs find dances follow each other in quick succession, being woven into the crisply funny dialogue in a perfectly natural manner. As the widow O’Brien, Mr Harry Hall shows that he is a true chip of the paternal block, displaying good low comedian qualities without vulgarity. As John Waffles, alias Oount Menaggio, Mr J. L. Hall had an excellent part, and in the first act fairly convulsed the audience with bis ” most excellent fooling,” especially when popping the momentous question to the relict of the departed O'Brien. Miss Bella Ferman doubled the parts of “ Dora McAlister and Bella Thompson, an irrepressibly high spirited coloured soubrette, and did ample justice to the fun of each part. Miss Laura Roberts was Very good as ‘\Nbrah JO'Breeon,".whose conquest of the love sick yet bashful Tim Cranbury (Mr T. Ferman) was so easily effected. Despite a tendency to overdo his part, Mr Hue Lynch was vastly amusing as the rough old sea deg, Captain Cranbury, and Mr Willie Perman made good use of his opportunities as a mirth producer as the Bristol’s steward. The fun of the whole piece is of the fast and furious order, and never flagged for a moment. As singers and dancers the members of the Company are exceptionally successful, a trio “ The Musio Lesson,” in the first act going very well, whilst Miss Roberts deserves especial praise for her solo, “ Pretty white lilies.” In the first act also was given a remarkable exhibition by Miss Bella Ferman of her high kicking capabilities. Judging from the agility she displayed last night she would be an enormous success as a cancan dancer. If all ladies were gifted in this line as she is. married men who stop out after twelve would have a remarkably rough time of it. The concert scene in the saloon of the Bristol in the second act introduced a whole host of “variety” business, songs, choruses, and dances being well executed by the performers. Mr Hall, unfortunately suffering from a severe cold, substituted a most dramatic recitation “ The Tramps Story ” for the advertised song “ Willikins and his Dinah.” A special and most attractive feature of the evenings performance was the Triple Clog Statue dance. This is something after the style of entertainment given by the Faust family, the tableaux, however, being introduced in a ll extremely graceful dance, The performance was very well received by the audience, several items being encored, whilst laughter was loud and prolonged throughout the whole evening. There is no doubt that the Company have made a great hit, and the success of their season is now assured. The singing and dancing of Miss Perman and Miss Roberts are far and away beyond the usual run of variety business, while the sand dancing of the ’Perman Family is exceptionally clever. To-night there is a complete change of programme, H. J. Byron’s popular burlesque of Aladdin or the Wonderful Scamp being the piece de resistance. There should be a full house.