ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2726, 3 February 1910, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE SCARLET TROUBADOURS

A large and enthusiastic audience greeted the opening performance of the talented combination, the Scarlet Troubadours, at His Majesty’s Theatre last night. The entertainment is one which necessarily appeals to a- very wide circle, combining as it does high-class music and excellent singing with refined humor. Both are provided inabundance, and the programme presented was a truly enjoyable one. The large audience found the performance so evidently to their liking that in almost every instance an encore was demanded, and quite a number of the items were doubly recalled. The opening chorus, “Strolling Players,” was gn en with fine effect by the Troubadours, and the next item was a pretty duet, “Gome Underneath by Big Umbrella,” by Miss Maud Fane and Mr. Sidney Mannering. Mr. Ford Waltham’s mangnificent bass voice, was heard to great in “The

~r- i uu L '' iiu\autage m rue Last Flagon,” and lie was heartily encored. A tasteful rendition of the ever popular "May Morning” was given by Miss Madge Nicholson, who is tile possessor of a light soprano voice oi good quality. The next item on the programme was an unaccompanied, quartette, "bleep Little Pickaninnv,” by Messrs Mannering, Griffiths. Cunningham. and Waltham. This was an exceptionally fine number, the expression and harmony being well nigh perfect. As an encore number the quartette convulsed the audience with “A Peck of Picklc-d Peoner.” The jester, Mr. Edgar Warwick, contributed an extremely humorous song, entitled, "iisliing,” and in response to an insistent recall lapsed into monologue, in which his facetious description of a socialistic speech called forth much applause. Miss Maud Fane, for her openiiic-r number, chose Seymour’s pretty song, "The Bee’s Wedding,” which she sang very sweetly, and her encore ntimber was a dainty rendition of ‘Grow Little Mushroom Grow.” Mr. Alfred Cunningham used his fine baritone voice with telling effect in his contributmn. “The LTevout Lover.” and, receiving a double recall, was

even more successful in a stirring rendition of the ever popular ••Toreador,” with wnicli he delighted Gisborne plavgoers on the occasion of the previous visit of the company. Aliss Gertrude. Parker fully justified her reputation in a humorous number entitled “She Didn’t Know Enough About the Game,” and her rendering of an extremely pretty and quaint ballad. “Dear Little Jammy Face,” as an encore earned for her another recall, the double compliment, being well merited. The concerted item bv the Troubadours, “On the Banks of Allan V atcr,' ’ was illustrated in colors by Mr. Claude Lcplastrier, the sketch artist earning decided applause for his clever crayon work. A humorous number, k Bobby s Banjo, 5y bv tlie.Troubadours, brought the first part- of the entertainment to a close. The second part- revealed the performers garbed in old English costume, and the items rendered were in keeping with the Stylo. After thp in cr nTinrnc

A A, A ujjviiuig ononis. “Lome All le Lads -and Lassos/’ ’ Air Waltham again delighted the audience, with a. spirited interpretation of a hunting song, “Old Squire Bob,” and a particularly effective number was Air Sydney Mannering’s “Drink to Me Only,” in which he was vocally accompanied by tile Troubadours humming m exquisite, harmony. Both items were desorvodlv encored. Air. Warwick was hardly so successful with his second number. “A Countryman’s Visit le London, as ho was in his earlier efforts.” In response to a recall for his singing of Ay 1 ward’s old English number, “Tile Song of the Bow,”"Mr Cunningham sang verv tastefully “The Village Blacksmith.” The concerted item, “The Village Pump,” was one of the juts of the evening, the facial contortions of the performers bein<r responsible for unrestrained mirth on the

part of the audience. Air Claude Lepiastrier again exhibited " remarkable cleverness of manipulation of crayons in drawing three sketches in an incredibly short space of time, one' in particular, a. view of Alilford Sound bein°* striking “Janie” was the title of Miss Parker s final number. a catchv bright little ditty, and the programme was brought to a conclusion bv an item from the Troubadours which was some, tiling in the nature cf a burlesque on a. practising vocal quartette. This number was somewhat disappointing, and might well be dispensed with. It rather savors of cheap vaudeville, and in it Hie performers by no means attain t ie standard of excellence achieved in ad tlie other numbers. A complete change of programme is to be given to-night, and it i s confidently anticinated that another large audience will be present to enjoy the good things