Tableaux Vivants.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 124, 23 November 1895, Page 2

Tableaux Vivants.

The lmich-talkcd-of entertainment in aid of the funds of the Feilding Public Library was given in the Assembly Rooms last evening before the largest audience that has ever witnessed a local entertainment in Feilding, the hali being packed, and tbe promoters, foremost amongst whom was Miss Johnston, who acted as organiser and was ably assisted by Mrs Macarthur, have every reason to feel proud of their efforts to produce what has, undoubtedly, proved to be one of the best and most enjo3 7 able jet staged by Feilding amateurs. The hall was nicely decorated with evergreens which, with the lillies arranged in front of the stage, relieved the baeness of the walls. The programme was commenced shortly after eight o'clock by Mr R. F. Haybittlc's string band playing the waltz " Chants dv soir "as an overture. The band consisted of Mr R. F. Haybittle (cornet), H. Bildcrbeck (bass viol), G. Haybittle (piano\ E. Ha}'bittle (first violin), A. Haybittle (second violin), and T. Scott (clarionette). This orchestra also played during the tableaux and intermittently. Ou the rise of the curtain the .silent tableau •' Tho Oracle " was shown, Mrs E. Goodbehere taking the part of the " Priestess," Mr O. Cooper the " Oracle," the supers being Mrs Johnston, Misses Liddle, Roe, Brunette, Giesen, and Macarthur. The effect was very pretty and the audience expressed their appreciation by loud applause. The singing tableaux " Auld Robin Grey," in two scenes, was also very good, Miss Diamond, representing " Jeanie," sang the verses appropriate to the scene ; Mr E. J. Kelleher represented "Jamie," Mr A. C. Matheson " Facther," Miss M. Macarthur " Mither," and Mr G. M. Benson " Robiu Grey." The Japanese fan song and dance, in character, by Misses Liddle, Moss, A., L., andM. Macarthur, and Miss Knowles was very pretty, and was encored. The character song and chorus " The bogie man " was, also, pretty and amusing. Mr Durnaresq represented the " bogie man," but his small still voice could barely be heard half-way down the hall. However, his grotesque capers were amusing and the fourteen ladies in character with white robes and candles in their hands, togetber with the assistance of the magnesia light proved very effective and the audience demanded an encore. The character song " Where are you going my pretty maid," and parody was given in two parts. Miss L. Roe made a pretty and coquettish " Maid," her singing and acting being faultless, while Mr A. G Carty assumed the character of the " Man." Miss Giesen represented a " University Lass," and might have been even more success!" ui bad she used the pronoun in the first person in place of the third, while Mr F. Goodbebere acted as the " Man of to-day." In tbe singing tableau " Gipsy scene and Cacbuca dance " Mrs G. Kirton as " Esmeralda " sang the verses and was recalled, the Gipsies being Messrs Matheson, Eade, Cooper, Carty, and Brabant ; witch, Mr Kelleher ; Gipsy girls, Mesdames Dyer, Revington Jones and Johnston, Misses Knowles, Liddle, A. and L. Macartbur and Moss. The grouping of tbe first scene in this tableau was very realistic, but tbe Gipsy girls in the Cachuca dance were not quite correct in time. The second part commenced with the overture " Mazeppa " by Mr Haybittle's band. In tbe statuary the arrangement of the " statues " was very pretty, tbe magnesia light bringing out in bold relief tbe representations of " Art " (Mrs Revington Jones), ••Justice" (Miss Giesen), "Grief" (Miss Fry), "Captive" (Miss Liddle), "Angel" (Miss Thornhill), "Flora" (Miss M. Beattie), "Music" (Miss Robertson), "Advance New Zealand" (Miss E. Knowles). The singing tableau " Tit for tat," by Mrs and Mr J. G. Oldbam was encored, tbe singing and acting of the former being very fine. The character song the "Bold Gendarmes," by Messrs Buchanan and Kelleher, created a considerable amount of laughter, chiefly owing to their forgetting the words and referring to copies held by them and when they got " mixed up " towards tbe end the audience good humouredly recalled them, an encore verse being given in response. In the singing tableau "May Queen" Miss Diamond took the solo part, eighteen " Villagers " joining in the chorus. Mr D. P. Buchanan made a mirth provoking " Old woman," while Mr W. Giesen as " Jack in the green " was evidently in favor with the ladies. Miss N. Fry appeared in the character song " Caller Herrin," her fine voice being heard to advantage. Her expression was very good and she had to respond to a welldeserved encoro. The pretty tableau " Queen Catherine's dream," was comprised of a " Queen," Mrs E. Goodbehere, and as " Angels " Mesdames Revington-Jones and Johnston, Misses Carew, Brunette, Beattie, Diamond, Gosling, Kirton, Moss, L. and M. Macarthur, Liddle, Thornhill, Roe, Saxon, Smart, Robertson and Stevens. " The Angelus " being sung by the " Angels " and an invisible choir. This was also encored. Tbe entertainment concluded with the National Anthem, which was sung by the company prettily grouped on the stage with their manycolored garments. The tableaux were all really well worth seeing and remarkably well arranged, the unanimous opinion of a critical audience being loud in their praise. The accompaniments were played ou a new " Eavestaff " piano, lent for the occasion by Mr J. Cobbe, by Mrs H. B. Dyer and Miss Greenwood. During the interval Mr T. Watson thanked the audience heartily on behalf of tbe Library Committee, for their attendance and support on that occasion; also, all those who had assisted. Special mention was made of the valuable assistance rendered by the Feilding Stab. Messrs O. Cooper and E. J. Kelleher acted as stage managers and Mr F. Fowlea worked the nmgnesimn light, which proved very effective in the tableaux. Before tbe audience dispersed cheers were given for the performers and Miss Johnston, the organiser. The performers then sang the National Anthem the audience joining with spirit. We are informed that the audience was equal to 350 adults, there were 100 performers and the approximate receipts are 104 6:s while the expenses were only .£'B, leaving the " record " net return of .£26.