None of the large audience at the Theatre on Saturday night could complain of lack of variety or quantity in the entertainment provided. In the concert which filled the first part of the programme, the humorous and sentimental elements were well con trasted; while in the farcical comedy which followed, the fan was fast and furious from beginning to end. Undoubtedly the gem of the first part was Miss Cissie Denver's rendering of Mulloy's difficult song The Kerry Dancers." It was given with admire able feeling and breadth of expression, all the more praiseworthy as the artist is suffering from an affection of the throat. to enthusiastic applause gave a pretty Trish ballad Terence's Farewell," and then had to re-appear twice before the cheers subsided. Another very pleasing item was the charming duet, 0 that we two were maying," by Miss Denver and Mr. Walshe. 'The latter did well in " The Star of Beth-Iehem," though his upper notes suffered from being forced, a remark which applies also to Miss St. John, who gave 'It as a dream," and, as encore, Comin' thro' the Miss'Patey, in correct masculine ig dress, sang typical music-hall composition, and Mr. Hall gave, with amusing action, an Irish comic song. followed by me other pleasantries. Mr. Fearnley sang "For ever and for ever," and Mr. Wentworth "The Old Brigade," while the concluding number was the comic duet from Ruy Bins, or the Blasé Rowe, entitled The Little Peach," made familiar to Shanghai by the Blackbirds. Tt was sung by Miss Patey and Mr, Hall, both admirably "made up," with deep discordance of grief. The overture to Poet and Peasant," admirably played by Mr. Zeplin, was much appreciated by thos who could hear it through the conversation which seems to be considered the correct thing when an overture is being played.
The Balloon, " farcical comedy in three acts, by J. H. Darnley and G. Manville enn, proved to be the combination of mistakes and misunderstandings customary in such compositions. The central figure is a young doctor. who, on the eve of his marriage, finds his sins rising up against him in the shape of a former amour with a too fascinating widow, who turns up with compromising lettere from the doctor in her possession, snd threatens a breach of promise action. The complications arising out of the doctor's efforts to extricate himeelf from the toils, and his subsequent flight ina balloon, need not be described here. The piece is decidedly thin—even thinner than the average farcical comedy; but it is very amusing. Miss Vera Patey was an extremely good adventures, and Mr. Willard played the harassed hero to the life. Mr. Hell, as a playful blackmailing scounrel with' sort of Harold Skimpole manner and " trick of bursting out into song, caused soe OF laughter. Hise Bessie Royal, ly of uncertain age, was also very funny, and Mr, Wentworth was the very type of a doddering old stage servant. Miss Denver, Miss Trigge and Mr. Saxby supplied a Very small admixture of the lover element. "The piece went with very few hitches, and was loudly applauded,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.