CLARK-CHRISTIAN ENTERTAINMENT.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 260, 12 April 1875, Page 2

CLARK-CHRISTIAN ENTERTAINMENT.

The last of this series of entertainments took place on Saturday evening at the Oddfellows' Hall. The audience was one of the largest ever seen in Christchurch, and many persons were compelled to go away disappointed of their evening's amusement in consequence of the crowded state of the hall. Mr Clark had selected for his recitations on this, his last appearance, one of the prettiest of all Dickens's stories, and the " Prescriptions of Dr Marigold" were taken with much enthusiasm by the patients assembled. Of all the recitations the reverend lecturer has favoured us with in Christchurch, this, we think, was the most successful, and the enthusiastic applause which greeted Mr Clark must have convinced him, that, if the Christchurch public were at first rather slow to appreciate his abilities as a lecturer, yet that they had now fairly recognised his genius and were ready to acknowledge the fact.

With regard to the musical portion of the entertainment we hardly know what to say. The language of panegyric as applied to the solos sung by Miss Christian on Saturday evening would be superfluous. There was not one person in the crowded hall, who did not feel that he, or she, was listening to an artiste whose rare abilities were being exerted in the most conscientious manner to please the audience, and the result was that the storm of applause which broke forth at the finish of each song, showed a hearty appreciation of the treat which had been given to all who were present. Of the songs during the evening we liked best " Will he come," and in response to an encore, which would take no denial, Miss Christian sang "Oh take me to thy heart again." The ever popular "Kate O'Shane," too, was the signal for another encore, and Miss Christian came forward again and sang " Come back to Erin." With regard to the duet, " The sailor sighs," we shall say nothing more than that it is a pity for second class amateurs to appear in company with an artiste of Miss Christian's calibre. Mr Parker's solo on the cabinet organ with which the evening's entertainment opened was appreciated by a large portion of the audience, and throughout the evening this gentleman deserves every praise for the manner in which he accompanied the singers. At the conclusion of the entertainment the Rev Charles Clark came forward and made a short but effective speech, in the course of which he intimated that although his arrangements made it necessary for him to return to Melbourne, yet that his coadjutrix, Miss Christian, would in all probability pay us another visit at a date not far distant. That the rev gentleman's statement may prove correct is the hearty wish of every one who heard the lady.