U.S. Minstrels.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2783, 15 January 1878, Page 2

U.S. Minstrels.

These minstrels bare lost none of their popularity, as last night the Academy of Music was almost, if not quite, as well filled as on their first appearance here. In the first part, after the opening "overture, Mr Amery sang " The days of happy childhood," a song admirably suited to his voice. The chorus in this was very effective, especially the soft part. A comicality "He was my hanki panki," by Mr Tom Hudson, caused unbounded merriment, and it is needless to say that it was greeted with uproarious applause. Thi3 was succeeded by a plaintive song " Mamma, where has baby gone," beautifully rendered by Mr .Rockefeller, in fact, we have seldom heard his voice to so much advantage. A song by Mr Campbell entitled " Queen of the night" elicited warm expressions of approval from the audience. "Contraband Children," by Mr Holly, was the next thing on the programme, and was of its kind a very good performance. Mr L. Braham then sang, " Mother, take the'back home," a fine tenor song, which wa3 done justice to by the singer. The " chair business " was concluded by a laughable " Phantom Chorus," in which the comical fear of Messrs Hudson and Holly kept the audience in roars of laughter. Messrs Hudson and Holly's original-song and dance, " Our father, he sold charcoal," was the first item in the second part. It was exceedingly well received, and: in response to an encore another double song and dance was given, to the great delight of the " gods." Messrs Braham and Amery received well merited applause for their singing of a vocal duet. An encore was demanded, but the gentlemencontented themselves with bowing their acknowledgments. Then came a laughable farce called " Shandy Gaff," which kept the house in a state of chronic laughter from beginning to close. Mr Hudson's banjoistic effusions were very good, and his singing of " Just behind the battle, Mother," an amusing parody en the well known-ballad, was greeted with an encore. Mr Braham exceeded his former efforts in the singing of " Beloved Star," his fine silvery voice being heard to great advantage. The cornet and violin accompaniments by Messrs W, and J. Thompson were very effective. Mr Amery well merited approbation from the audience by his singing of a descriptive scena. The performance was brought to a close by the two laughable sketches, " The Surprise Party," and" Piscatorial Pastimes." This evening, the last night,'the performance will be under the patronage of His Worship the Mayor, and the elite of the Thames, and we have no doubt but that "the gentlemen with blackened faces" will be greeted with a bumper house. We have seen the programme prepared for this evening, and must say that it is a very liberal one, although we would like to see a few items of instrumental music on the list. Posses*, sing such instrumentalists as Messrs Conduit and W. and J. Thompson wfc are sure that efforts in that direction would be duly appreciated by a music-loring community as the Thames people undoubtedly are.