The Hall Company.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 26, 11 August 1887, Page 2

The Hall Company.

By the large audiences which are attending the entertainments given by this Company it is evident that Mr John L. Hall and his troupe are becoming great favourites with the play;going public. On Tuesday night a really capital bill of fare was presented. The first part consisted of a humourous little musical farce entitled “ Barney's Courtship,” after which came a succession of songs and dances, and a very humourous recitation by Mr J. L. Hall. The Statute Clog Dance was repeated, and wae again vociferously encored, and the performance of the Marvellous Girards was a remarkable sivi-ess. Those who have seen the Majilton Family and the original Girards admit that the colonial competitors are their equu.s in ability. The high kicking of Mr Percy Vokes was alone worth a visit to the theatre, whilst, the barrel performance by a younger member of the family, and the extremely graceful dancing of Miss Bella Vokes were greeted with great applause. Mr “Johnny” Hall made a big hit with his 11 Villikins and His Dinah,” his facial expression being most comical, and we cannot remember having heard the quaint old ditty more comically rendered, The second part of the programme consisted of Byron’s well known burlesque Aladdin.” As the Widow Twankey, Mr Hall caused an almost continuous burst of laughter whenever he was on the stage. Mias Laura Roberts made a pert and piquant Aladdin, and Miss Bella Vokes was a charming princess. The other characters were adequately represented, and the burlesque went off extremely well. The gem of the evening was the really beautiful rendering of ••Sweet Spirit hear my Prayer" by Miss Laura Roberts. This young lady possesses a remarkably fresh and attractive voice, and gave the song with much pathetic expression. The song met with an enthusiastic encore, and deservedly so. Taken as a whole the performance was extremely successful. Last night the Company appeared in an entire change of programme to a very good house again, in spite of the wet weather, the performance was very well received. The variety business of the Jubilee Minstrels went off famously, and in the “ Belles of the Kitchen ” the Australian Vokes simply kept the house in one continual roar. To-night, “ Fun on the Bristol ” is to be repeated in answer to a general request and all who have not yet patronised this exceptionally clever company should not fail to attend.