SHANNON PATRIOTIC ENTERTAINMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1756, 6 September 1917, Page 3

SHANNON PATRIOTIC ENTERTAINMENT.

At on Tuesday night, a novel entertainment was held in aid of the Patriotic funds to a full house. The entertainment took the form of ten minutes entertaining turn by twelve groups of competitors. The judging was done by a committee of six posted in different parts of the hall, and at the conclusion of the entertainment the committee compared notes and selected the winners, There was no classification, and Ihe turns included instrumental items, interspersed with vocal or elocutionary, straight-out dialogues, vaudeville items, choruses, anthems hy a ehoii —it only wanted the ministers to lake a hand to complete the gamut of sacred and secular. The first prize was awarded to Mr Clayton, who took up his 10 minutes with a patter song full of local hits, and the audience enjoyed his digs at Shannon’s “big chiefs” and business men, coming on top of the recent first municipal election. Two little girls, Doris Carter and Watterston, as “.Mr and Mrs Tom Thumb, ’’ recounted in a lengthy duet their marital disagreements and final reconciliation. They looked and ael • cd the parts of a miniature wedded pair very well, and belter still their enunciation was good, even if they were not altogether tuneful at times. Miss Signal and Mr Hornblow were awarded third honours. All the other competitors entered heartily into the entertainment, and their items were 1 thoroughly appreciated. At (be conclusion, (be prize-winners gave back their prizes, which were auctioned by Mr Ilornblow, and realised good prices, which goes to supplement the fund. A swag of prizes were awarded to lucky ticket-holders, consisting of bags of Hour, box of butter, fancy work, etc. A special word of praize is due to Mesdamcs Gibson and Laurvig, who organised and carried out the effort. Shannon is fortunate in possessing such enthusiastic workers on behalf of their patriotic affairs.

We should like to say one word about the stage in the building, which, latter, by the way, is in course of renovation. It is too low, and as with a level door, it prevents people sitting in the middle or back seats from getting a clear view. The performers on the stage are only visible from the waist up. This is a defect which requires attention.