COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2293, 29 October 1914, Page 7

COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT

*——— TO MR. STANLEY RANKIN. . Mr. Stanley Rankin has recently passed through a long and severe illness, and in the kindliest spirit his friends tendered him a concert, at the Concert Chamber last evening. As popular concerts go in Wellington, tho, diversified programme was a thoroughly entertaining one, and the fact that every item was ericorsed testified to the appreciation of tho largo audience present. Mr. W. Goudio sang "The Queen of Connemara," and Miss Gladys Watkins showed her best form in "The Pastorale" and in Mallinson's swirling lovo' song "Gloriana." Mr. Culford Bell struck the audience in a weak spot with his cockney sketch "Her Majesty Has Been Pleased," tho apt description of the emotions of a "Tommy" whilst undergoing the agonies of being publicly decorated with the "V.C." His encore was the introspective "Clown's Soliloquy." Dramatic force and dignity characterised Dr. Norman Hales s deliverance of the Harfleur speech from "Henry V," and, an imperative encore produced that ludicrous doggrell "Bill Boggaerts"—a re-creation of "Bill Adams." A second encore had to be responded te. . Later, Dr. Hales sang "It's a Long Way to Tipperary," in which he was assisted by half a dozen little dancing girls, and a chubby-faced, intensely serious, four-year-old drummer, who tickled the audience immensely with his unconscious humour. Mr. C. Hickmott sang "The Admiral's Broom," and "Off to Philadelphia." and Mr. Ernest Luks monologued "The Girl I Kissed on the Stairs" and "Nini, Ninette, Ninon," cleverly. "My Dreams" was the ballad selected by Mr. Laslett Exton, which was supplemented with "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes" (from "The Gondoliers"). Mr. R. S. Allwrighfc manifested , a studious regard for the meaning of the lyrics of the two fine songs ho sang. These were "Pagan" (Lohr) and "Salaam." Ho nlso sang, with Mr. Exton,. the duets. "Battle Eve" and "Somewhere a Voice is Calling." Mr. Bel] and Miss Betty Purdom scored once more in the comedy (.ketch "A Bus Ride," and Miss G. M'lnerney and Mr. H. G. Shakes showed promiso and plenty of assurance in the humorous sketch "Writing A. Play." Mr. W , . A. Spencer was honoured with a recall for his.spirited reciting of "Tho Day," and Miss Cara Denhafd displayed her rich mezzo contralto voice hi "Still As. the Night" (Bohm), for which she was recalcd. Mr. H. Phipps sang "Heigho, for the Morning," a breezy, sunlit song, acceptably, and •'l'll Sing Thee Songs of Araby," and; finally, Mr. Stanley Rankin showed his facility as a. monologiiist in "Roses," and "His First Long Trousers." At the conclusion of the concert Mr. D. M'Laren, as chairman of the committee, thanked all the performers for the capital concert given, and tho audienco for its attendance.

Miss Gladys Watkins, Messrs. H. Jennings, and E. Luks were the accompanists, and Messrs. H. C. W. Blick and A. G. Wallace the stage directors. ■ ..