The Court Minstrels at the Academy.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4694, 23 January 1884, Page 2

The Court Minstrels at the Academy.

Hegarty's Court Minstrels and Hibernicon Comedy opened last night at the Academy of Music to a good house. When the curtain rose for the first part of the entertainment, the minstrels; seven in number, were displayed, attired in the court costumes of a century ago, the effect being very pretty. The bones and tamborine corner men were Messrs Cowan and Buckley. After the overture and a vocal selection by the minstrels, the usual repartee between the interlocutor, Mr Shaw Cross, and the corner men was in* dulged in, the jokes provoking roars of laughter. Miss Vesta Amor sang, " Still thine own," for which she was applauded, and Mr Johnny Cowan in the refrain, " Will you be my Hollyhock," was successful, though the ballad, " Don't forget me little darling," by Miss Bella Sutherland, was certainly the best received effort of the evening. An encore was vociferously demanded, but exemption was pleaded on the ground of the length of the entertainment. A comic song, "Hanna Maria Jaybird, by Mr T. Buckley (bones), provoked peals of laughter, and the ballad by Miss Eva Winnette. "The old Wooden Rocker," was well rendered. "The sleeping beauties," by the company, brought the first part of the programme to a close. The interest of the audience was well sustained throughout, and the performance gave general satisfaction, the fun between the songs being fast and furious. After the interval, the laughable comedy of " Mollie O'Connor " was pro* duced, the scenes being descriptive of the tour of an American gentleman through Ireland. The tourist's (C. P. Doolittle, Esq.) part was taken by Mr Shaw Cross, Miss Bella Sutherland impersonating his sister. As Julius P. Cuffee (servant to Doolittle), Mr Johnny Cowan was thoroughly amusing, his stupid blunders and faculty for always misunderstanding orders being irresistible. Mr T. Buckley as Barney, the Irish guide, acted the part well, and as Mollie O'Connor Miss Mary Vivian several times had the opportunity of displaying a cultivated and well modulated voice while favoring the audience with Irish songs.