ODD FELLOWS’ HALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5258, 30 January 1878, Page 2

ODD FELLOWS’ HALL.

The H.S. Minstrels made their debut at the Odd Fellows’ Hall last evening to as crowded a house as could: possibly be contained in it, every seat being taken, and many being unable to, find even standing room. The programme commenced with the usual overture of songs by various members of the company, the singing of Messrs, Campbell aud Braham being remarkably good, the latter being most heartily encored time after time. Messrs. Hudson and Holly, as corner-man, kept the audience in roars of laughter with their puna and riddles, which were unexceptionally good, and had ;the merit of being new. A very laughable piece called “ Au Invitation from the Emperor,” in which the corner men were troubled badly with rml do mor, concluded the first part of the entertainment.. Messrs. Hudson and Holly then appeared in a clog dmee, for which they received rounds of applause.The Iquartett “ Crowned with the Tempest,” by Messrs. Braham, Rockefeller, Campbell, and Amery, was reaily a treat, Messrs. Braham and Campbell’s voices being heard to great advantage, also Mr. Rockefeller’s wonderfully pleasing voice. Messrs. Braham aud Campbell, as tenor and baritone respectively, have much better voices than we generally find with travelling minstrels. Mr. Lingard’s playing on two tin whistles at the same time was something that one does not often see or hear—a person playing tune after tune in perfect harmony on the both whistles. An amusing sketch, entitled “He would be an .Actor,” but entirely different from another piece of the same name, fairly convulsed the audience. Mr. Hudson was, inimitably fuuuy ; Mr. Campbell also acted iu a very energetic manner. Mr. Amery then sang in a very effective manner the song “ Hear me, gentle Maritana.” Messrs. Hudson aud Holly sang and danced a “ breakdown,” which was received with deafening encores, to which they responded with a short repetition. Mr. Braham then sang “Beautiful Star” in a splendid manner. The evening’s entertainment concluded with the screaming sketch, “ Thompson's Dead,” which made one’s sides ache with laughter. Taking the Minstrels all round, there is no doubt that they are second to none who have appeared in Wellington. We may mention that Mr. Barnett, the lessee of the hall, has had the inside of the building entirely renovated, everything being now blight aud new, aud the difficulty which formerly existed in finding the door to the front seats is entirely removed.