The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-06
ROYALTY IN THEATRICA(Ls.
Amateur Performances Given IA
Blenheim Palace, Home of the
MarlbOrOuEhs.

ing of tableauy and theatricals, have
been given at Blenheim palace. Last
night. by invitation to the tenants of
the Duke of Marlborough on the es-
tate; that afternoon, county families in
the neighbOrhood, who paid half
guinea a seat, and tonight for the gen.
try, who paid crown. Special trains
were run from Oxford and the audiences
were crowded, particularly to the en-
tertainment which WAS given in the
long library of the palace. The heavily
mOuled ceiling. the long rows of red
draped book cases and the silver-piped
organ, made a fine setting for the well.
dressed crowd.
The stage, draped with red silk cur
tains, was erected at the western end
the proscanium, surmounted by the
Marlborough arms iii a wreath of
Christmas greenefy, which also depend
ed from the ceiling.
The performance opened with an or
gan overture by Professor Perkins of
Birmingham, who composed the music.
and the musical burlesIme with which
it closed. The participants in the per-
Torrance were the Duke and Duchess
of Marlborough, Lady Lillian and Lady
Nora Spencer Churchill, Lady Randolph
Churchill, Lady Blandford, Lady Cur
ION and Lady Sarah Wilson and Lord
Chesterfield, Lord Curzon. the Hon. Mrs.
io"ulhe, MI ileiiry w nlte, secretary 10
the United States embassy, and Mrs.
White, Mr.. Henry Miner and Mr.. j.
Churchill. The Duke of Marlborough
appeared in two tablcaux as Louis Nv.
with the duchess as court lady of the
court of Louis XIV. Both dressed the
parts splendidly, the duchess being par
tcularly handsome.
Lady Randolph Churchill, in most
superb costume, appeared as the EN-
NJ 4,
appeared in tabeau entitled "T'he Eve
of st. Bartholomew Mr.. White, az
the Duke of Quiz. The tableaux won the
heartiest applause. In the last tab,eauA
Lord CurzOn appeared as Lord Nelson,
and the audience joined in singing "Rule
Britannia A two-act musical bur-
lesque brought the performance to
conclusion. Its librettist is Ian NAL
colin, conservative member of parlia-
mcnt for Suffolk and one of Lord Sal
isbury's private secretaries. 1t is q fee
BILE piece with no plot to speak of, but
with some smart lights and songs. The
characters were sustained by the Duke
of Marlborough. made mp to represent
Uncle Sam, the Duchess of Marlborough
as the Countess Of Klondike, Lady Ran
dolph Churchill in the role of woman
reporter, j. Churchill US Chinaman,
and Lord Churchill, Ladies Lillian and
Nora Spencer Churchill and Hon. Alger-
non BOurke in minor parts.
The piece contained many political al
lusions to Mr. Gladstone. Arthur Bal
four, Cecil Rhodes, Sim Reeves, Beer
bohm Tree, Emperor William and
others. Here is specimen from the
song of Lady Randolph Churchill:
mo subjects too private for me,
I'd fall on a duchess at tea.
The feon in Jail,
The millionairc'S mail,
They are matter and money for me-"
Here are verses from the song of the
duchess:
"Of course l saw the jubilee,
1t was firing function;
L saw the queen, the queen saw me,
And bowed with special JUNCTION.
State concerts, operas and plays
lnnumerable pleases me;
intermingled nights with days
Until the megrims seized me-"
Chorus
II am so tired,
Terribly, awfully tired;
| think | shall die,
| don't know why,
Except I'm tired"
This she sang prettily in sweet,
small voice. She was charmingly
dressed and radiant and achieved n great
success.
Lady Randolph Churchill showed
wonderful vivacity, acted cleverly and
made hit.
The artistic success of the burlesque
which is entitled San Idle Hour" was
achieved by Hon. Algernon Bourke as
Boots. his capital song achieving triple
encore.
The whole affair was very successful
and netted considerable sum for
charity.