TURUA TOWN HALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5195, 26 October 1927, Page 2

TURUA TOWN HALL

ANNIVERSARY CONCERT. HALL FILLED TO CAPACITY. The best, concert ever heard on the Hauraki Plains was staged by th© Turua Public Hall Company last Saturday evening to mark the anniversary of the opening of the hall. Seating accommodation was taxed, and many had to stand. The Lyric Quartette, which is; well-kpown in Auckland and to al Ibroadcast listeners, made their first appearance on the Plains and made many friends, who will look forward to a return visit of these highclass vocalists and society entertainers.

Opening with “Oh, Miss Hannah ! the quartette was recalled and gave “Peaceful Night.” Mr Alan McElwain, the well-known humorist and baritone, followed with a Jewish ejection speech “Perlmutter” and the song “The Major.” Next came Mr A- H. Ripley, whose fine t.enor voice was heard in “A Dream” and “Absent.” Miss Alma McGruer, soprano, sang “The Ke.rry Dance,” and as an encore “Two Cuckoos,” and was followed by Messrs H. Richards, tenor robusto, and E, Thomas, basso, in “Two Beggars” and “Tenor and Baritone.” The Lyric Quartette then contributed “In Absence,” and as an encore sang several nursery rhymes, following when recalled with. tlie. humorous song “Women.” “A Sailor’s Paradise” and “Tire'Wheel Tapper’s, Song,” by Mr E. Thomas concluded the first part of the programme. The Lyric Quartette was twice recalled when it opened the second part of the entertainment with “Fireside Melodies," giving “Little Tommy went a-fishing” and “A Sticky Tragedy,” two short humorous part songs. Miss McGruer and Messrs Ripley and Thomas then gave several songs from the opera “Bohemian Girl” and bowed their acknowledgement of the sustained applause. Some more humour was given by Mr Alan McElwain, who told “All About Love.” Recalled, he gave a lecture on public health from “The Meanderings of, Money,” concluding with a yarn about Henry Ford. Mr Richards followed with “Longing for You” and “AUsa and Miss McGruer and Mr Ripley gave an operatic selection from “Maritapa” and two short songs in lighter vein. The concluding items were by the Lyric Quartette, “Afton Water” and “The Sand-Man” being the titles. The accompaniments were played by Mrs A. H. Ripley. ' The whole conce.rt wasi thoroughly enjoyed, and was, without doubt, the best enteratinment that has ever been on t,he Plains.

Special credit is due to Mr A. P. Gardiner for the setting of the scenery (thq property of the Turua Concert Party), to whom the. thanks of the whole company directors are due for his able work in this direction. For arrangement of furnishing, and floral decorations credit is due to Mrs J. H. Johnston, who was responsible for this work.