ENTERTAINMENT AND DANCE IN AID OF THE CAMBRIDGE BAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2477, 26 May 1888, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENT AND DANCE IN AID OF THE CAMBRIDGE BAND.

A NiiiCKR entertainment was given in tho Public Hall, Cambridge, on Wednesday evening by tho Buffalo Minstrels, and if we may judge by the screams of laughter that greeted the performance, it must be pronounced a decidcd success. The hall was crowded, indeed we have not seen such a large audience at any cutei tainment since the Fisk Jubilee Minstrels visited tho town. Mr F. Tycr acted as interlocutor, Messrs Mettam and Angus as bones, and Messrs Wilson and Butler as tnmbos. We do not think the doubling of the corner men an improvement, as two can usually make sufficient noise. but we presume it was done to introduce more funny business. The programme was as follows :—Opening chorus. "Tho Torpedo and the Whale: comic song, "Johnny Morgan," Mr Geo. Mettam ; sentimental, "Tell me Mother where is Minnie," Air A. G. Knight; comic, "Ting, Ting: That's what the Bell says," Mr J. W. Butler; sentimental, " Sweet Genevieve," Mr F. Tyer ; comic, "The Yellow Girl that Winked at me," Mr H. Wilson; Sentimental, "Down the Svvannee River," Mr W. Chambers ; comic, "Duck Foot Sue," Mr R. Angus; sentimental, "Sweet Chiming Bells," Mr Cudworth ; comic, " There's Another Jolly Row Down Stairs," Mr F. Stewart. Messrs Wilson and Angus were deservedly encored for their comic songs, and Messrs Chambers and Oudworth narrowly escaped similar treatment. After a short interval Mr Knight sang " London Bridge," and Master Mettam, aged seven years, played " Home Sweet Home" upon the cornet, for which he was encored. Messrs Mettam and H, Stewart then gave a double song and dance, "Down where the pansies grow." In this Mr Mettam wore the wellknown long shoes, and Mr Stewart was attired as a nigger woman, with a large improver. They danced remarkably well, and were vociferously encored. Tn response Mr Mettam gave what was supposed to be a ventriloquial exhibition, and asked the audicnce to notice that not a morsel of his

face moved." We believe ho kept his face straight, but the contortions of his body were most excruciating, until Stewart (stiil as tiie old woman) came in and said if he was to go 011 answering, it would have to be in a lower koy. The performance concluded with a farce entitled " Circus Dick " but we have often seen it as " Talent wanted."' In this Mr Mettam was supposed to be raising an opera troupe, and if the applicants for situations did not ceme up to his standard, they were neatly ejected by Mr Wilson who acted as ''chucker out," a vocation that exactly fitted him. This kept the audience in one continued roar of laughter, and we think sent them away satisfied, as we heard

several remark that it was the best show of the kind that they had seen for years. The comic busiuess was decidedly good, but the musical portion was—in our

opinion—not up to the murk, the choruses not having been practiced .sufficiently to make them go as smoothly as is necessary in a really pond minstrel entertainment. The chair business was closed by an

imitation quarrel that many of the audience thought was real. .Dancing commenced about eleven and was kept up until -J a.m. the band supplying the music.