ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1778, 14 September 1874, Page 3

ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

On Saturday evening the troupe comprising Miss Maggie Knight, Mr. John Gourtey, and others, gave the first performance, of the season in the above tlieatre. A capital programme was presented: the first part commencing with Stirling Coyne's amusing comedy: "The Eights of ' Women," 'in which Miss Maggie Knight performed the role of Widow Blandish; Sir Andrew Burly, <Mr. John Gourlay ; and Pat (the latter's ralet), Mr. Lancelot Booth. The piece was performed with spirit, and created a good deal of amusement. Mr. Gourlay promises to be equally as good as his father in these characters; and Miss Knight acted very prettily. This young lady was still more pleasing in her singing, being possessed of a voice which only wants the strength given by years to make it excellent. As it is, she was loudly applauded for her solo performances, receiving an encore in each instance. . Mr. Booth sang a local song in the course of the evening, in which there were some happy references to late electioneering events. Mr. Ned Mason, who has obtained a reputation as a negro delineator, gave several of his excessively comic performances, in which the extraordinary elasticity of his nether members and the power of his lungs were equally striking. These qualifications are requisite to negro songs and dances, and Mr. Mason received the applause merited. Mr. John Gourlay was very successful in the Shakesperean scene from Bichard the Third. His make-up was excellent, and his conception of the burlesque character was no less so. The evening's entertainment was brought to a close with a comedy, entitled, "The wonder of the world, a silent woman," in which Miss Knight and and Messrs Booth and Gourlay enacted their parts admirably. The season, we believe, is not to be a long one, and it is purposed to give a change of programme each evening, so that the company are likely to receive a fair share of patronage during iheir stay.