THE CALCINED CORKONIANS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 339, 25 May 1877, Page 2

THE CALCINED CORKONIANS.

The newly-formed troupe of Christy Minstrels bearing the above striking name are to be congratulated upon the very great measure of success which attended their first appearance in Oamaru last evening. The Masonic Hall was crowded in every part by a most enthusiastic audience. This fact may to some extent be attributable to the very laudable object on behalf of which the entertainment was given—the Mechanics' Institute, —but no doubt a large number were attracted to the hall by the well-known ability of many of the Corkonians. The programme was commenced with the opening chorus, " Down the River." This was given very well, and elicited loud applause. The song, " The Moon behind the Hill," was then sung by Mr. G. Booth, and was given with considerable taste —the singer being loudly applauded for his efforts. "The Hen Convention," sung by "Tambo" (Mr. Carncross)Jfollowed, and met with considerable approbation from the audience. Mr. Walls narrowly escaped an encore for his tasteful rendering of the song, " Still I Love Thee," the applause which greeted it being loud and long-continued. " The Malster's Offspring" followed, but was not so successful as it might have been had not the singer (Mr. Hickey) been suffering from a cold. Mr. E. Booth secured an encore for the very excellent manner in which he sang " Will You Come to Meet Me," and repeated the last verse. Another comic song by "Tambo," " Goode-bye 'Liza Jane," concluded the vocal portion of the first part of the programme, and was given very fairly. A little sketch, " Old Brown's Horse," in which " Bones" and "Tambo" were the central figures, excluded the first part. The various choruses were fairly rendered, though at times a little indecision was noticeable on the part of some of the singers. This, however, is a fault which, under the able direction of Mr. Finch, the musical director, will soon disappear, the members of the troupe only requiring to become a more accustomed to singing together. Of course, there were the usual funnyisms of "Bones" and "Tambo,' most of the jokes being both new and good. The local hits took immensely with the audience. Ii there was a fault in the joking department, it was that there were rather too many of the funnyisms, several of which might have been dispensed with. The second part consisted of a number of conjuring tricks, performed by Professor Jum Bang (Mr. Brine). Several of these were really excellent, the card tricks being the most worthy of mention. The performer, who is only an amateur, is deserving of considerable credit for the manner in which he succeeded in deceiving and pleasing the audience at one and the same- time. After a few minutes the third part was opened by Mr. E. Booth singing "Didst Thou but Know," which he rendered so well lately at the Philharmonic Society's concert. If anything, the song was given with greater success than on the previous occasion. An encore was insisted upon, and Mr. Bootli repeated the last portion of the song. Mr. Walls, who sang " Thy Voice is Near," also had to submit to an encore for the manner in which he rendered the song. The concluding item on the programme was a mirth-provoking sketch, entitled " The Calcined Filibusters." The incidental song was full of local hits, the whole of which were received by the audience with roars of laughter. Altogether, the sketch was given with a grotesqueness and an amount of humor which thoroughly convulsed the audience. It would have been difficult to have chosen any farce or comic item better calculated to send the audience away in thorough good humor, such as was the case last evening. _^^____^_____