SMITH’S COMBINATION TROUPE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4143, 1 July 1874, Page 3

SMITH’S COMBINATION TROUPE.

It was a venture attended with considerable risk to follow so soon after the English Opera Company with an entertainment at the Theatre Royal, but we think Mr. John Smith will have no occasion to repent his visit to Wellington. Last night the weather was by no means favorable, a steady close rain falling, but a very good house awaited the rising of the curtain. Mdlle. Montebello and Mr. St. Vincent were the first of the new company to appear, and they were well received. They gave a clever comicality, “Love Malting v. Heart Breaking,” in ■which an amusing variety of popular songs of the day was introduced, and proved themselves very excellent illustrators of that new and peculiar style of song and singing which has given a character to the London music halls. Both have good and powerful voices. Mademoiselle has all the cleverness of Miss Lizzy Watson, with a more powerful voice, and without her vulgarities; while Mr. St. Vincent —though suffering from a hoarseness, which may he considered a certain result of travelling in New Zealand in winter weather—showed that he, also, has all the qualities which have made Harry Rickards popular, while he has better taste his selections and illustrations, and has poetical talent besides, proving the latter in his rather clever version of “ Castles in the Air.” A little more care in attention to dress however, in the change to a Yorkshire countryman, in the excellent song of “A Country Life for Me,” would have been desirable. Yorkshire ploughmen do not sing in black unmentionables of the charms of their Dollys. Mr. St. Vincent has an excellent voice and a good appearance. Mr, De Castro, with his daughter and two sons—most clever and amusing little people—next made their appearance on the swinging rings, and created quite a sensation. The young one with his drolleries, and liis emphatic “ It’s me,” made himself quite a favorite; while there were some mothers amongst the audience who could scarcely be brought to admit that “ Annette,” a really wonderful child, could be a girl Val Vose, the ventriloquist, made the audience acquainted with quite a new thing in entertainments. He introduced two puppets, seated in chan’s —Mrs. Broun and Johnny Trotter, an irrepressible Yorkshireman —who appeared to be capable of doing anything and everything. By their help, and that of a mysterious Mr. Jones, and an equally invisible Mr. Anderson, the artist gave quite a new sensation to those who were present. It was extremely clever ; but we shall not attempt to let those who were not there into the secret. Professor Saunders delighted the audience with his performances on the Welsh harp, playing most pleasingly the “ Blue Bella of Scotland,” “The Last Rose of Summer,” and “ The March of the Men of Harlech.” He obligingly complied with an encore, and gave two charming airs, the Welsh “ Rising of the Lark,” and one which both Scotland and Ireland claim, the former under the name of “I lo’ed ne’er a laddie but ane,” and the latter as “My lodging ia on the cold ground” both, however, being modern names, the music having evidently had its origin centuries ago. “ Young England ” Master De Castro, nine years old, and Alberto, five years old, then went through a really wonderful performance on the high swinging ropes. “ Aireo” next appeared in one of the moat surprising performances we have ever seem Nothing like it for daring, gu*ace, and ease has before been seen south of the equator. His performances on the flying trapeze exhibit a most remarkable power of balance, which can only have been attained by very long practice, added to singular natural powers. It is sufficient for us to say that it was graceful in the extreme. The performance concluded with the De Castro Family in a drawing-room entertainment. Madame De Castro took in it, and astonished the audience—the ladies in particular—by her wonderful exhibitions of agility and strength. The performances throughout were of the highest class, novel, and free from any approach to vulgarity. The artists were selected in England by Mr. John Smith, for a visit to the Colonies ; were brought out by mail steamer ; and do credit to the taste and experience of their manager.