CHRISTY MINSTRELS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 345, 15 October 1875, Page 2

CHRISTY MINSTRELS.

AMATI3UE PEEEdE&JLJTCE. This very promising troupe gave their first entertainment at the Town Hall Naseby, in aid of the Athenaeum", on Wednesday evening. The entertainment commenced wftK the well-known comedy styled "A Happy Pair," in which Mr. Bayen and Sir. G-. .Collett appeared.. Mr. Collett's get-up as Mrs. Honeyton -was excellent, and his acting throughout was of a very superior character.- This piece was acted to /great disadvantage, for the point of it depends so greatly upon tlie dialogue. In the Hall, unless a speaker is well forward on the stage, and speaks with slow distinctness, pronouncing each syllable, it is impossible for all'those sitting in thei body and.back of the building to'hear what is said. In this case, all though perfectly familiar .with .the play, and on the watch to note how Mrs. Honey tonV determination ■" not to be bullied " —founded on the reading of Kitty's letter : was expressed to tlie audience, we failed to note it at all. Of cource, as the play developed-, the determination became obvious, -but the; immediate point and interest was lost for want of the running commentary upon the letter being inaudible. Mr. Collett's:eloeuti'on was not to blame, W hen again, later ori in the piece, the engineer is-hoist with her own petard; and tearing up the letter determines to actno longer—a really-fine piece of acting—every word was audible, because immediately before'the foot-lights. 3\lr. Baven interpreted his .part with considerable success. It would not be expected that on a first performance an amateur could catch that perfect air of Dundreary nonchalance which is the most'true' spirit of the play, rather than the less aggravating but more easily acted style of rough abruptness. Perhaps 'the: piece was not calculated to bring out Mr. [Raven's best dramatic qua- | litjes. let us add that Mrs. Honeyton just knew exactly what to do with her j hands, < and that the dialogue never faltered, having been carefully studied by the actors. The piece was highly appreciated by the - audience. Master and Miss Marshall followed as Sir Peter Teasle' and Lady Teasle giving in character a dialogue from "The School for Scandal." Here again the acoustic properties of the stage were not properly studied. ; The get-up of. Sir Peteij Teasle was excellent and his emphasis most laughable. Lady Teasle acted and looked therpart well, shewing a careful study. -1 Th& Colored: Opera Troupe after the interval appeared in character, and gave a programme which was an evening in itself. . Messrs. Spedding and Baven, as Bones and Tambourine, were excellent- - Mr. Speddmg's rendering 0 f the "Hen Convention " being incredibly ludicrous. The pieces., were all well given, and were capitally arranged. Mr. G. Collett's song " Mother with the Angels there." Mr. H. Jacob's "Lulu Lulu," and Mr. Keeliug's ''England Yet" being worth special mention. In all the pieces that required the Company's support it was given in capital time and without exaggeration. The bye-play was free from coarseness, and the points were well brought out. The orchestra placed throughout the evening with, a very pleasing effect, and in a manner that must have pleased the conductor, Mr. E. Hartman*. r The latter part of the programme, including a comic negro farce, was, we believe, creditably performed. At the close of the entertainment dancing was started, and kept up till an early hour the next morning. The Hall was well filled, and interest was sustained throughout.