THEATRE ROYAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2053, 28 July 1885, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

THE "MERRYMAKERS."

Mr Washington Norton's company, which opened at the Theatre Royal last night, fully deserves its name of the "Merrymakers," for from beginning to end the andience was kept in the merriest mood imaginable. "Two can play at one game" commenced the fun, and earned the company the heartiest applause from all' parts of the house. Mr Henesey Leroyle'd negro servant was undoubtedly the loader in this, and came in for the lion's share of approbation. MrH. Norman, who possesses a fine, powerful bari-. tone voice, followed with the song " Who deeply drinks of Wine,"and was encored, Mr Washington Norton next appeared in his lightning changes, When ho stepped on the stage he was in plain evening dress, but by a few touches he transformed himself into a Frenoh officer. By similar simple proceasos he becamo an English country gentleman, an Irish washerwoman, an old maid of New England, and a girl of the period, Those who wear fashionable attire may probably ,be able to explain how he managed to change "his boots and stockings, without putting a hand even down to his knoes. As a matter of course, he was loudly applauded, Mr JN orman then sai,g 1 'The Wolf," and fully earned the encore he got, In response he gave' 'The. Midshipmite." Mr Norton's performance of the banjo must be seen and hoard to be understood, He got at least four 'consecutive encores, to all of which he gOodnaturedly responded, A Japanese violin and the galloping of horses, imitated on the bones, fairly brought down the house. A farce called "The Electric Bellows," in which Mr Leroyle and Mr Norman took the principal parts, kept the audience in shouts of laughter from beginning to end, the manner in which the owner of the wonderful bellows was presecuted being very clearly worked up. The company is announced to .appear again to-night l in an"entire new programme, Those who wish to spend a merry evening cannot do better than to use the opportunity and visit the Theatre, We feel assured that the attendance will be as satisfactory as it was last night,