MRS JARLEY'S WAXWORKS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2982, 25 August 1891, Page 2

MRS JARLEY'S WAXWORKS.

A VKKV successful entertainment took place in Te Awaumtu last Tuesday in aid of the Kail improvement funds. Notwithstanding tho threatening look of the weather, the hall was comfortably filled. Tim programme was a tiiple one—concert, Mrs Jarley's waxworks, and dramatic performance, but any one part alone was worth the admission monov. The concert began with a piano[ortu r.01.1 by .Mr L"iig, veiy nicely played; after) which Mr Durness sang "I i car 110 Koe." This gentleman's singing is so well known and deservedly liked all over the Waikato that 1 need not say mora than it was up to his usual standard, lie also sang " Will of the Wisp" later in the evening. Mr Fry sane "Steering; for Home" iu a very pleasing manner, his lino tenor voice enabling him to take the high notes ai clear as a bell. Mr Uresham ably supplied the next item by stuping " The Mermaid," all the male porformeis singing the "Rule, Britannia" chorus. Ho gave it with plenty of gusto, and was deservedly oncored, when he repeated a verse. Miss Allan was to liavo snng. but owing to a heavy cold had to disappoint the audience. Still nho contributed to the success of the concert by playing most of the accompaniments. And, lastly, we come to the gems of the evening—l mean Mr Hookey's solos, Ho gave us " The Scout," and " Queen of the earth," and in response to the clamorous encores, " Vanity," and " The Three Anglers." His singing is so true and so full of expression and his voico such a really fine one that it is no wonder lie is in great request whenever a concert is 0:1. "The Three Anglers" is new to Te Awatnutu, but caught on tremendously and the audience would have liked it again and again, but the curtain had to fall to give Mrs Jarley a chance of getting her show in order. After a short interval the exhibition of the wax-works was given and the general opinion was that it was very good indeed, much better than expected as most people thought that as a style of entertainment it was rather ancient. The rising of the curtain disclosed to view a stage full of celebrities artistically grouped and their striking costume and tout ensemble forming a tableau that brought thuuders of applause. A beautiful queen, renowned in history, formed a fitting centre piece around which were standing Madame Patey, Robinson Crusoe and Friday, Pickwick tryiug to dodge Mrs Bardell, and a tiny pet lamb trying to dodge the knife of a cruel butcher. Close by an old lady was showing the cleansing powers of Pears' Soap on a small boy who looked as if he couldn't help it and towering above all was a tremendous Chinese giant. I liked Madame Patey and Chang the giant the best, but opinions seem to vary, and they were all roally very good. One of the audience who evidently knew a thing or two said tho figures hardly as life-like even at Madame Ttissand's. Mrs Andrews mado up splendid as Mrs .jarley aud as tho showwoinan could hardly bo beaten, her descrptions of the various " figures," giving most striking passages in the 'istory "of oacli, being very good. Mr Vauso, as her boy Joey, kept the house roaring with laughter at his every movement. The cunning way ho went about winding up Crusoo, oiling the widow's cap of Mrs Bardell so that she would faint uroperlv, or brushing a Hy of tho giant's noso fetched the boys in tho hall ; indeed sometimes his by-play kept the audience from getting tho full benelit of the sliowwouiau's witty sayingsduscribingher talented ctti"ies. Towards tho enl of the show a pretty little Fairy Queen was brought on the stage out of a band-box. The audience wanted to encore this figure if possible, and a shower of bouquets rained on the stage from the hall. Each figure when wound tiii went through certain movements like life itself. Mrs Jarley, after showing everything, bid her friends "Adoo,- and then, after a short interval, what was described on the programme as "A Lad from the Country," a rib-twisting tragedy, was put on tha stage. I think it is called so because tho hero of the piece at one tune twisted the ribs of twenty-three sheep, and " had not felt very well since." Our inimitable Mr Vauso iu tho title role was immense, although I think 110 gagged rather too much. He was the life and srnil of tho piece ; his stupid mistakes and wonderful funnyisms fpoken in the provincial dialect kept tho houao shrieking with laughter, Mrs Andrews, as Patty tho Cook, was in her eloment, acting with great spirit and abandon, and pleased the audience here as well as when she was showing the figures. Mr Wall acted in his usual natural gentlemanly wuy, and wade the niosfc of tlic minor part of Mr Peckover with his fine stage voioe and prosouce. Mr was very fair as Cocklepot, and Misa otorey rendered satisfactorily her small part as Laura. A dance following tho farce concluded the best two shilling's worth of amusement I should think tho Te Awaniutu people ever had or are likely to lijiyo. I understand the takings were about £10, and as the expenses were not heavy, the hall fund will get a fine lift, and perhaps] tho executive will be able to get a little scenery.