Mr F. W. Millis' Entertainment.

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1267, 11 August 1884, Page 2

Mr F. W. Millis' Entertainment.

In the brief space of a newspaper critique it would be impossible to do full justice to Mr Millie, who ap peared again m the Foresters' flail ! on oaturday evening before a large audience. As a ventriloquist ho it certainly without a rival, and an a delineator of character m the eonii* - live he is also exceptionally good. On Saturday evening he introduced several new characters, his stock appaiently being inexhaustible and the one m which he represented an old man left at home with a crying baby » airly convulsed the audience with laughter. In this character Mr Millis was greatly aided by his yen*. triloquial power. By special request be repeated the sketch of the Ancient "and Modern Troubadour, Which was given even better than on the previous night, and which was loudly applauded- In this char* acter Mr Millis sang his " Sneezing Song " which provoked great merri* ment. His imitation of the senti • mental Bwain serenading his lady love, was excellent, and the change of voice and facial expression from this to the imitation of the lady replying to her troubadour, was rapid, complete and clever. From her simpering air and falsetto strains there was also a quick change to the gruff tones and fierce appearance of the warder. In all his character sketches Mr Millis proved hims9lf a capable actor, and if the entertainment had consisted of these alone the audience would have been well satisfied. But m the second part of the entertainment, m which he displayed his singular powers at a ventriloquist, Mr Millis did more than satisfy ;he delighted and surprised his audience with the varied nature of his feats. The illusion at times was so perfect that it seemed hard to believe that the figures were really inanimate, and only appar* entlj gifted with speech by the almost magical skill of the operator. Mr Millis possesses a pleasing face and manner, and as these are backed up by sharp and ready wit, he conrives to keep his audience ir> a thorough state of enjoyment. Seve« ral new features were introduced into the last part of the programme on Saturday evening, one of the best being a trio, " The Parson and the Clerk," m which the pirson's part was apparently sung by a Quaker, m a deep bass voice, the Clerk's by a little figure seated on Mr Millis' knee, and the responses of the conn gregation by a negto figure. At the conclusion of the performance Mr Millis announced that, m response to many requests he had decided to appear again m the Hall on Wednesday evening on his return from Foxtou, where he will play to-uight.