LACKAWANNA MINSTRELS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 105, 4 October 1879, Page 2

LACKAWANNA MINSTRELS.

The Minstrel and Variety troupe of the U.S.S. Lackawanna entertained the residents of Apia, for a second time, on Tuesday night last,—on this oocosion on shore, at the Deutsche Handels-Und Plantagen-Gesellschaft's now cotton factory. The entertainment was given aa a complimentary testimonial to the Protestant School for Children of Foreign Residents of Samoa, and was vory largely attonded by both foreigners and natives; in faot it may be pronounced the largest audienoo ever gathered together at any entertainment in Samoa, This is vory satisfactory to the Trustees of theSobool from a pecuniary point of view; and may certainly he accepted by the Lackawanna Minstrels as a token of tho high appreciation the residents hern have of their ability as a variety troupe. The new cotton factory, which would make u excellent theatre or concert-room, was

fitted up in moat complete and tasteful manner. The stage could not have been better fitted up, or the general appearance of the proscenium prettier, had they been intended for permanent use instead of "for one night only I" The foot-lights ware twelve in number; on the two extreme ones a star was painted while the ' word Lackawanna was spelt, in large letters, on the remaining ten. The walls of the building were covered with flags, and the auditorium was amply lighted by lamps, lanterns, and three large tin chandeliers with candles made fast to side-arms. Viewed from the promenade at the back the entire decorations showed up well, and the general appearance of the room was exceedingly good, reflecting great credit on the taste of those gentlemen into whose hands this part of the business fell. When it is remembered that the troupe were hard at work during the whole of the day in preparing for their visitors, and that the performance lasted until midnight, it must be admitted that there is a good deal of hard work attached to such an entertainment in a place like thii, for which every credit should be given to those engaged in it. Lieutenant Brice undertook the management of the decorations, Mr. C. It. Bennett was stage manager, Mr. Brooks was door-keeper, and Sergeant Craig officiated as usher. All the members of the School Committee, as well as Captain Chandler, U.S.S. Lackawanna, Thomas M. Dawson, Esq., American Consul, Th. Weber, Esqr., Imperial German Consul, and Captain Mensing, H.I.G.M.S. Albatross were present. There was also a good sprinkling of the officers of both slups-of-war, and a number of tlie men; while me foreign residents in the district came in such force that it would ye difficult to mention the absentees. The first part of the performance was that known by kindred minstrel troupes as "the chairs," Messrs. R. Lindsay and J. Coakley being the cornermen (bones and tanibo respectively), and Mr. A. M. Fame the interlocutor. A cornet solo and the opening chorus by the Company started the evening's entertainment in a very fair way. Neapolitine by Mr. T. Roberts, a comic ditty by Mr. J. Coakley (encored), a ballad by Mr. J. Ford, Awfully Clever by Mr. R. Lindsay (encored), Annie of the Dee by Mr. E. Bennett, and a chorus by the Company, were all so well rendered that one word of praise for all must also be accepted individually. Between the songs there was the usual perpetration of jokes and propounding of conundrums, some good and others rather stale. Two local ones by Mr. R. Lindsay were received with great applause. One was, —Why is ths Samoa Times like a tooth brush ? Because it is indispensable and therefore every body should subscribe to it and not borrow their neighbours. The other was still better. Bones went to Mr. Alvord, the auctioneer, to buy a dress fcR a Samoan girl, and asked for as muck calico as would go twice round Vesuvius. Mr. Alvord could not supply such an extensive customer in one line, and asked for what such a large quantity was required. The reply was that Vesuvius was covered with lava, but to cover his girl it would take a lava-lava. In part 2, the song Many in One by Mr. Gr. H. Purdy he received an encore and a bouquet. This was followed by the Essence of Old Virginia ably rendered by Mr. T. Heenan. The Album of the Stage by Mr. A. M. Fame was one of the triumphs of the evening. It included a number of local skits in which there was some good allround hitting, and concluded with a poem, splendidly recited, the burthen of which was " the mill will never grind with tho water that has past." This was desorvadly oncored, and the performer was also the recipient of a bouquet. The encore song was also local, descriptive of a dinuer party reoently given to.some of the officers of the Lackawanna by Messrs Bell and Laurenson, the hosts of the International Hotel. This song was vooiferously received, but Mr. Fame very properly declined a second encore owing to tho length of the programme. Lessons on the Banjo by Messrs. J. G. Griffith and C. R. Bennett caused roars of laughter, and was really very amusing. The make-up of old Grif, as. he is familiarly colled, was complete, and "likewise" his best friend would scarcely recognise him " therefore" he deserves some credit. I'se trabling back to Georgia, by Mr. R. Lindsay was so well rendered that it was impossible for him to escape an encore, for which he gave Old Black Joe, with vocal acooinpaniment behind the scenes. This is one of Mr. Lindsay's specialities, and it may be fairly pronounced one of the best bits of character acting that could bo expected from any amateur. The Lackawanna Spoonera, a duet and dance by Ford and Heenan was deservedly encored, and the sketch entitled The Gout by Messrs. C. R. Bennett and J. Coakley was well received. In part 3, the Happy Old Couple was excellently done by those artistes,—even if only amateurs,—Messrs. Lindsay and Farrie, and was loudly encored. Tho doublo clog danc of Messrs. Ford and Roberta was prettily and cleanly executed. The men were vory neatly dressed, whioh contributed in no small degree to showing off more distinotiy the neatness and precision with which they excoutod their steps. Notwithstanding the fact that they laboured under no little disadvantage in not having suitable music, they danced so "well that the audience inautod upon an encore whioh was given. The Banjo solo of Mr. Griffith was good, but acoroely up to what be can do on that instrument; we have heard him pick it much better. The QUut Tumbler performance by Mr. J. Jonea was fully §escribjd In our critique or the performance on board the Lackawanna, but it was

considerably improved upon on this occasion, Mr. Jones succeeding in balancing two tumblers containing water upon his forehead with a glass filled with water in each hand, while he worked his way down to a sitting and then a lying posture, and returned to his feet again without spilling any water. This he repeated t and afterwards took a champagne glass in a similar manner, and with equal success. This clever performance, it seemed to us, did not receive that amount of applause whioh it deserved. Moody and Sankey, by Messrs. Lindsay and Bennett obtained .an encore, for which they gave a parody on In the sweet by-and-bye. The propriety of singing thsse songs,— particularly the latter, —before a mixed audience such as was assemblsd on this occasion might be fairly questioned; and though we clo not wish to diotate to the stage manager, we think it would have shown better taste if they had been excluded. The Big Six, by Messrs. Lindssy, Coakley, Heenan, Jones, Bennett and Bennett was a comical skit on the mode

of drilling raw recruits by a sergeant who evidently knows no more of his business than the men. It created a considerable amount of laughter, which is all that it claims to do. A little farce called Taking the Pledge brought a very enjoyable evening's amusement to a close at a few minutes before midnight. We hope it will be possible for this excellent troupe, through the kindness of Captain Chandler, to give us still mbre entertainments; there is suoh a dearth of amusement here that it is quite a treat to be able to spend such a pleasant evening as Tuesday last. It might be possible to combine what little local talent there is ashore with the troupo and play for the benefit of, say, the Apia Cemetery which has to be kept up by public subscription, and is for many reasons a worthy object of support. The Lackawanna Minstrel Troupe handed over to the school trustees the sum of 8115, for which they received the following letter of thanks:— To the Members of the Lackawanna Minstrel Troupe. Gentlemen, —The Trustees of tho Apia Protestant School for the children of Foreign Residents, beg hereby to tender you their very best thanks for the generous feeling which prompted yon to give a benefit for the said school. The proceeds, which amount to slls, less various expenses, will be put asido as the nucleus of a fund which will probably be ultimately used to build a school-house, which is very ir.uch wanted. To each and every member of the troupe we present our heart-felt thanks, and express our best wishes for their future welfare. On behalf of the Trustees, G. A. Tusker, M.D. '