NORMAL SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1375, 12 July 1878, Page 2

NORMAL SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT

The midwinter entertainment of the students of the Normal School took place last evening, in the drill hall, which was very prettily decorated for the occasion. There was a very largo attendance, the audience numbering over 600. The programme included dramatic and musical selections, the latter being interspersed between the former, and affording a pleasant change, besides enabling the performers to take a rest between the acts without wearying the audience by long waits. The piece selected for the dramatic portion of the entertainment was Goldsmith's comedy of " She Stoops to Conquer," the characters in which were sustained by the ladies and gentlemen connected with the student staff of the Normal School. The parts were throughout very well sustained, particularly the lady characters, all of whom both acted well and looked the parts they were assuming. Considering that the time at their disposal has been very limited, the way in whicn the piece was got up and acted throughout reflects very great credit on all concerned. Particular praise is due to the scenic artist of the students, whose fertile imagination, more especially in the scene where Mr Hardcastle and Tony are bogged on the heath, is deserving of the highest commendation. At the fall of the curtain on the third act of "She Stoops to Conquer," the dramatis persona; received a hearty and well-deserved call before the curtain, and were loudly applauded. The musical portion was also equally deserving of praise. It comprised selections from the cantata " The A r oyage," which were well sung, vocal solos by Miss Spensloy, Miss B. Spensley, and Messrs Snow and Elliot. The Misses Carl and Edgar played a pianoforte duet very nicely, and Miss Bull played a pianoforte solo, a waltz of Chopin's. Messrs Fraser and Thornton, in the final item on the programme, "The Gendarmes" duet from

"Genevieve de Brabant," fairly brought down the house. Their make-up was ludicrous in the extreme, and they sang some verses apropos of matters connected with the school, which had the effect of elicitirg a a vociferous encore. Prior to the conclusion of the entertainment, Mr Howard thanked those present for their attendance, and remarked upon the general success which had attended the efforts of the students to amuse them. The National Anthem closed a very successful performance.