The Haybittle Concert.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 12, 14 July 1894, Page 2

The Haybittle Concert.

The concert given in the Assembly Booms last evening, by the members of the Haytottle family, in mid of the . ;K funds of the -new Wesleyan Church, T-.^l. was a decided success, lotiTsw^-at'.'jt'^..''^ from every point of view. The .houji9 ' ■ was a large and appreciative one, the J" '.'* performers were all in good 'ibrji}, ■'■*..^ while the programme presented was a \ '33 most enjoyable one, consisting .Ipf musical items (instrumental and vocal), .' " .'* recitations (humorous and otherwise), i'l~' dialogues, etc. The family is, without "* doubt, an exceedingly clever one, each member of it, from the 'seniors to the youngest, being possessed of no ordinary amount^ of Vtalen<v"|tncl' it^ ''*•< is not too much to say that there is not another family in : New Zealand gifted with a lik«' f^ amount of musical V and dramatic Tf abilities. Mr R. F. \Haybittle and his three sons are masters of a number of instruments, and they play with much taste and skill ; Mrs Sutcliffe and Mrs Bead (nee Misses Hay- j bittle) and Messrs R. F., Fred, „ Henry and Walter all have good voices and possess considerable vocal ~ power ; while as actors and reciters it « would be difficult to find equals to the . last three mentioned. Unfortunately •'■< ; «- Mrs Reid was unable to take part in* * the concert last night, and through her absence more work 'feiroii^tue%^ others, but as each one is in himself a^ J host (especially Mr Walter) they in v : , no way lacked means of providing^ ir enjoyable items r and the encore which' ~' ; followed almost every effort was ample proof of the appreciation with which they were received by the audience. The opening overture, "La Dame Blanche," was capitally played by Mr R. F. Hay bittle (cornet), and his three -Jx sons (piano, and Ist and 2nd violin), Mr Bilderbeck assisting with the bass. '^ |Mr W. Haybittle followed with a comic song "Up to Date," which: £> drew forth roars of laughter, and in response to a vociferous encore he : gave « I Had a Fall," which proved -i equally amusing. Mrs Sutcli fife's song «■? "All the 'World's a Stage'; '^was^ rendered with much expression, 'and it v found favour with the audience who ; insisted on her re-appearance, "«• The).- fl Miller and the Maid " being then-^ given. "If the Waters Could Speak as they Flow " was the ■■awe-** lady's choice in the second part of the ' programme, and she was heard perhaps to the greatest advantage in thisV * ' A repetition of the last: verse^ "was, _^ was given as an encore. A recitation 1 - by Mr H. Haybittle, " Christmas Day in the Workhouse," was a very enjoy* able number ; plenty of vigonr "#a« : ' thrown into the piece, while the at- , tention of the audience was held right . through. As a recall a fanny ljttle;\ Scotch recitation was given, which/provoked much merriment. "Whist- , ling in Heaven " was the title of another piece given by the same gentleman, followed, as an encore, by : ";- a humorous piece, " Yakob Strauss." \ A much applauded- number was ..\ Mr R. F. Haybittle's song "Good Right Hand," the vocalist being accompanied by the members of his string band. " The Defence of Lucknow," one of. Tennyson's magnificent poems, was bandied by Mr Fred. Haybittle in a manner which gained . for him prolonged applause. The piece was well suited to him, and gave him V room for exhibiting his fine dramatic > ■ powers. He carried the audience with - him, as it were, through the whole r seige. He was listened to with rapt attention from beginning to end, andi t afforded his listeners a treat the like of which is seldom obtainable here. Reciting is, undoubtedly, Mr = Fred. Haybittle's forte, butjui : " addition he can sing a capital sbng^ as was proved by his rendidonlof • : ,_ " She Wore a Wreath of R«iei>? A«^.j an actor, comic singer and reciter, Mr r Walter Haybittle is almost unapproach* .■ able. He is a clever mimic," andit* takes no effort on bis part to keen* -^h house in fits of laughter. This f bl- -'- lowed in his comic song "Amateur Actors," and in response to an unde* v r ' niable encore he gave a " Descriptive . Yarn," which proved very funny. A<A dialogue between Messrs Fred and Walter, introducing a number of > negro funniraents and local hits pro>: voiced much mirth. The overture in the second part, "Le DebaUnt*," was v brilliantly played by the members of ' k string band, while a cornet solo by Mr B. F. HavbittU ani his son (Horgt i.wii. . givtn with considerable execution, fcfor Walter HaybiUle has a fine bariton* voic«V :^ and it was heard to advantage in^lhe' | song " Brave Old Guard." A feature of . ' his singing in bis distinot ennnciatipn, ( while ha has a good range of voice. :: Aa"; an encore to the former, he Rave the sacred song " Calvary," this being one of the most enjoyable items of the evening, and for whioh h« received w«!l merited ap> ■ Elause. The programme Was coneludid ji comic tong "Where Did YouG«l That Hat," by the same voc«|i«l, and as an encore he gaye a hnmorous^ piaoe. . descriptive of the manner in whioh soms; ;- people address audiences, etc., which r" simply brought down the house. The accompaniments durin» the evening were h efficiently played by Mr 8. Moore, and a .' most enjoyable concert was concluded by t. the ainsvast of the National Anthem.