The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1895-11-28

WHAT WAS SAID OF ALOCAL TROUPE in 1878.
The announcement that the Belfast Band
is preparing for an amateur minstrel enter
tanment in the near future has revived
recolections of the earlier entertainments of
this nature. Two shows We're given here in
1874 by local company, OF which Ned
O'Connell was the bright particular star
but they We're not written up at any length.
Reference was then made TO earlier enter
tainments of this kind, and Wiliamson's
History says that on July, 1851, the ''Sable
Harmcnists" gave two concerts at City Hall !;
but this may have been a travelling COM
pany. On the evening of April 3, 1878,
noted amateur minstrel show was given
here, Of which W. II. Simpson said in The
Journal of the following morning:
1t was a gala night at the Opera House.
From the crowded gallery down through
the whole house and even to the footlights,
there was, at eight O'Clock, an eXpectant
and brilliant assembly awaiting the begin
ming of the fun. The performance, by twenty
young gentleman Of this city, was eminently
successful. The efforts of our friends on the
stage We're highly prasworthy, Judging
even on the plane of professional and not OF
amateur performances. The music was
fresh and new, it was artistcaly rendered,
and was greatly enjoyed by the audience.
The jokes were original and bright, the local
hits happy, and the acting sparkling and
lively The four end men-Davis, Chase,
O'Connell and Quimby, kept the audience
in constant running fire of laughter. The
choruses We're heartily sung, while the
solos by Haseltine, Davis and O'Connell
We're admirably rendered. When all were
so good, we really have no right to single
Inr nrr,,ap nf ny,p nal
praise. The duet, cold Cabin Home" was
finely sung by Clark and Haney; the banjo
playing of Amos Poor showed that he was
genuine artist. An Irish character song
was given in an inimitabe manner by
O'Connell his address in pure Celtic to the
orchestra was impressive, if not Ineligible.
The song and dance by Dunton and Pills
bury was given in a nimble fashion, and
their costumes were stunning. The burlesque
on Thomas orchestra was a surprise; in
this there were six or eight performers all
playing on instruments of curious construc-
ton, and evoking from them some genuine
musical sounds. They were wound up, 50
to speak, by Our George. The parade song
of 'sBranagan's band'' NaS comic, as an
nounced on the bills. The band was mount
ed on seven lively, if not live, horses. Never
have so many fiery steeds been seen at one
time on the stage Of Hayford's Opera House
The pantomime at the conclusion of the en-
tertainment introduced us to a scene which
reproduced Kitchen Alley exactly. No
more accurate scene painting than this work
of Percy Sanborns can be found in any
theatre of this country. The pantcmiiue
commenced with the anvil chorus the anvil
part was quite appropriately played in Da-
mons blacksmith shop. 1t went on to show
the difficulties of some tramps and a small
boy who brings soup from the soup house ;
Pantaloon eats the soup, and it makes him
very sick; but stomach pump relieves him,
A = Il f11
conversion Of the company into sausage
The tricks were original and funny; they
were arranged by Our George and Amos
Poor. In response to general request, the
entertainment will be repeated tomorrow
(Friday) evening, with partial change OF
programme.