MR. STEPHEN- MASSETT AT THE ODD FELLOWS’ HALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5296, 16 March 1878, Page 2

MR. STEPHEN - MASSETT AT THE ODD FELLOWS’ HALL.

Mr. Stephen Massett's entertainment at the Odd Fellows’ Hall last evening drew a crowded house, and the performer, in his varied specialities, was eminently successful in enlisting the good feeling and critical attention of his listeners. His delivery of the charming poem the “ Vagabonds ” was a sympathetic and well-sustained interpretation of a poor beggar’s experience, who had seen better days, and showed that the reader was at home in a role of tremulous and sustained pathos. We must say that wo like the nice poise of Mr. Massett’s elocution, for he never transcends the bounds of right feeling. His manner is quiet—perhaps almost too much so—finished, and effective ; and he certainly has a thorough mastery over the emotions of his audience. He developed this fact exquisitely in the scene from Dickens’ “ Bleak House,” in which poor Jo gives up the ghost. The speaker's rendition of this matchless passage was affecting and unrestrained, and many of the audience were in tears ; but the comic scene from the “ Lady of Lyons ” soon dispelled the gloom, and caused much merriment. Mr. Massett’s imitations are an exceedingly felicitous feature of his clever entertainment. His wonderful falsetto imitation of Madame Anna Bishop made quite asensation, and was a complex piece of mimicry, in which the facial and vocal peculiarities of the lady were delineated to the life. The speaker sang some of his own pretty songs charmingly : “Sunset” and “My Bud in Heaven” were greatly enjoyed. “Betsy and I are out,”’ and “How Betsy and I made it up,” were very effective recitals; and in the second part, where the comic element reigned supreme, Mr. Massett created roars of laughter, by his facial contortions of persons “sea-sick and his imitations of Artemus Ward, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, and the Rev. C. Clark were life-like, the latter being instantly recognised. His musical illustrations of soprano, tenor, and bass were exceedingly well done ; and his interesting melange wound up by a very graphic rendering of the “ Charge of the Light Brigade,” delivered with extraordinary fire and effect. Altogether it was a most enjoyable evening, and the announcement of his second entertainment to-night, with change of programme, was received with applause.