The Royal Marionettes.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2968, 20 August 1878, Page 2

The Royal Marionettes.

This show opeced at the Academy of Music last evea'ng, there being a fair attendance so far as the pit and gallery were concerned, but the front seats were ral/her poorly patronised. Those present, however, thoroughly appreciated the entertainment, and at some points the dialogue was lost through the boisterous mirth of the audience, amongst whom were a number of Maoris. The first part of this entertainment consisted of a Christy Minstrel entertainment in which the little puppets acquitted themselves admirably. The songs were sung by members of the company in the w;ngs, but tbe excellent manipulation of I'ie fi<»ures ; made it difficult to believe that the songs did not p/occed from them. The Italian Fantoccini is very amusing, all the characters appearing to be imbued with life Amongst the most amusing of these., is "i he dismembered Turk," who comes befoie the audience, and first his legs and then his arms fly off* and turn into little puppets, dressed like clergymen. The skeleton is also a very ingenious affair. Tue pantomime of " I/.itle i{ed Eiding Hood " was very amusing, and the Harlequinade uproariously funny, the antics of Mr Merry man and his associates being perfectly natural. The performance closes with a beautiful transformation scene with lime-light effects. We can heartily recommend the. Marionettes to the heads of families as one which the little ones would enjoy immensely, ard we tope to see crowded houses every evening.