State School Concert

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 75, 14 December 1889, Page 2

State School Concert

The concert last- night in the Assembly Booms was in every respect an unqualified . success. Notwithstanding the heavy downfall of rain late in the afternoon and the threatening aspect of the weather in the v evening, the hall was literally crowded with a large and appreciative audience. • The grouping of the children on the stage had a very pretty effect, and their bright, intelligent faces augured that as far as they were concerned the show would be interesting, and in this we were not disappointed. The proceedings were opened ' with a .duet on the piano, very well played by Miss Eoaohe and Miss- " Hastie. The action song " The Clock," sung by 50 children ; " " The. Skylark," sung by 40 children; the „ simultaneous recitation "When "I am &• man" by 8' children; the action song " The Fox and the Goose," by 50 children; another simultaneous recitation " The voyage of the Arm Chair,'.' by 20 children; the song " Where do the Fairies dwell," by 40. children ; .and the song " Where the • Beauteous Flowers,".by 40 children, were all well rendered. In these pieces Mrs Lissaman acted as conductress, and this talented lady is deserving of the highest praise and commendation for the patience and skiil she must have exercised to bring the little oneß to such perfection, both in singing and appropriate action. We com- - pliment the school committee on having ■ at their disposal the services of so useful a teacher, while the parents of the children must recognise the enormojuse advantages to Le derived from the tutelageof 'SO efficient a schoolmistress. Miss Nellie Holmes recited "The Editor's Story" thoroughly well ; Miss Kiitie Harris recited " Speak Gently" with qons:derable feeling, and Master G. Haybictle • recited " John Littlejohn" with proper emphasis and action. The violin duet " John and Ann" by the Masters Haybittle | went very well, and they displayed creditable skill on their instruments considering their extreme youth. An amusing little farce in which Mr Strachan and Masters Bellve and , Haybittle" assisted, concluded the first half of the programme. The second part opened with the yalse " Sonimer Eegen" by the Feilding Brass Band, under the leadership of Mr R. F. Haybittle, which' was capitally rendered. Mrs Macarthur then sang " Imperfectus" with, great taste and execution ; she was accompanied on the piano by Mrs Dnncan r • and, at the conclusion of her song, was loudly applauded. Mr F. Keen gave " Ballyhooly" and in response to an enencore sang " Out of respect to McGuinness" in his most felicitous style. The duet "Juanita" was beautifully sung by Mrs Oliver and Mis* Fraser, Mrs Oliver also sang " Daddy" very pleasingly. The concertina solo "Auld Robin Gray!' by Mr. Sommerville was a brilliant piece of execution, and in response to a very hearty encore he played " The .Bells." " The Last Rose of Summer" was rendered by Mrs Duncan, and this lovelysong was done full justice to by this talented lady. She was accompanied by Mrs Macarthur on "the piano. Mr Elkuigton sang a comic song in his usual happy-style The piano ■ duet " Spinning Wheel" by Miss and Mr Neil, was a treat, but -the violin solo "Aida"- by Miss Neil was undoubtedly a masterpiece. "The ten little Niggers" under the leadership of Mr Reading was very funny, and excited roars of laughter. '. A farce entitled "The Crankey Athlete" by' Messrs Keen and Porthouse concluded the performance. The Rev. Mr Wilks, the head teacher, then addressed the audience. On behalf of the school committsa he thanked them, for their attendance, and he also thanked those ladies and gentlemen who haS. so kindly assisted in making the-'perfor-mance a success.- The children then . Bang "God, save the Queen," and the audience dispersed well' satisfied with their -evening's entertainment. The Rev. Mr Wilks was stage manager in the first, . and' Mr J. C. Morey in the second part. - Both of these gentlemen performed their allotted tasks well, and a great deal of the success of the performance must be attributed to' their knowledge of their work. Miss Bellve and Miss Roache played the accompaniments on the piano, and then: . services were well appreciated. . In concluding this necessarily brief notice we may be permitted to express the hope that a similar entertainment may be given at no distant date. "