With pretty scenery, an excellent programme, and undoubtedly talent-artistes, the "Quaints" opened their season in Shanghai at the Lyceum Theatre on Saturday night. The theatre was full, and the success of the performance leaves no doubt as to the popularity of the company during its stay here, The keynote of Saturday night's entertainment was originality. One has only to mention the very effective midget scenery, the dainty costumes and the cleverness of the artistes to demonstrate this From the rise of the curtain it was at once apparent that the company had the audience with it, and the numbers were punctuated by frequent rounds of applause. The prologue "The Finding of Pierrot" set the programme going, and after the audience had been "'invited to Pierrot Land," Miss Agnes Croxton described in tuneful lyrics the customs and manners of this fairy country. Not often has it been the pleasure of the Shangha: public to see such & charming exponent of dancing as Miss Peggy May, her toe dancing being quite " feature of the entertainment. She made welcome reappearance in the second half with Mr. RB. Salisbury in a portrayal of three sidelights of London, viz., the cinema, the workhouse bonnet, and "how people cross the road." Mr. R. B. Salisbury appeared at frequent intervals during the entertainment, and whenever he was on the stage the and-ence was kept in continual laughter. His humour is of the best type. His song "James Wil-
923 lism Maconachio," written by Mr. Davenport to Mr. Hewlett's musical setting, was one of the popular numbers of the evening." His talent as & comedian was also in evidence in duologues with Mr. Courtenay Fagen.
Any description of the "Quainte' entertainment would be incomplete without special mention of Miss Agnes Croxton. She has a sweet and well modulated voice, and entered with zest into the humorous theme of the entertainment. Her solos "The Flight of Time" and "The Song the Bird Sang," and her duet with Mr. E, Lane Mott were much appreciated and de served ly encored, as were also Mr. Mott's solos. Another very popular song was "The Hoodoo" by Mise Dorothy James, who also rendered excellent service as accom: panist to several of the items. Much of the success of the opening performance of the "Quaints" was due to Mr. Hewlett at the piano. As an accompanist he was most successful, and when he had_ the stage to himself he exhibited a fund of dry humour which rather took the audience by surprise. In addition to the numerous individual items, the entire company gave
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