Entertainment at Te Aroha.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 485, 2 July 1890, Page 2

Entertainment at Te Aroha.

The entertainment given in aid of the funds of the Te Aroha Public Library last Friday evening in tli3 Public Hall was a very g reat success. It being a bright moonlight-night, there was a full attendance, and the net proceeds will exceed £lO, which must be very satisfactory to the Library Committee, especially considering the very dull times. The first portion of the programme consisted of a vocal at-.d in strmnentnl concert, Mr F.Pavitt and the Rev F. G. Evans acting as annunciators, The overture on the piano, Gobi finch Quadrilles, was performed by Mrs ltobson and Miss Waimvright in their usual brilliant style. The next item was a duet (in character), The CHpsey Countess, l>y Miss Violet Pavitt and Mr Brownell (encored), which was decidedly the gem of the evening, both the action and vocalisation being all that could be desired. Mr C. McLiver, whose name appeared on the pr.nted programme, did not put in an appearance owing to disposition, and instead, a comic song (in character), I Had Only Eighteen Pence (encored), was sung by Mr Fitzsimmons, whose “ make up” was very good. Miss Berger sang The Seng That Reached My Heart, which was well received, although, (n consequence of a slight cold, that lady diet not quite reach her usual standard of excellence. Messrs females and Fitzsimmons followed with an instrumental duet (violin and flute), Favourite Airs, with Variations, accompanied by Mrs Robson on the piano, which was well rendered and deservedly encored. Miss Wainwright’s singing of The Nightingale (encored), was a very finished performance, and ran The Gipsey Countess very close for first honours. Our Jack’s Come Home To-day was spiritedly sung by Mr F. Pavitt. The last item was The Outlaw, which was nicely sung by Mr R. B. B. Willis. We must not omit to record the efficient services rendered by Mesdames Robson and Menzies, and Miss Wainwright as accompanists. At the conclusion of the concert, M. F. Pavitt, on behalf of the Library Committee, came forward and thanked the audience for their very liberal support, and stated that the pro-' ceeds would be devoted to the payment of old debts and the purchase of new books. After the usual interval, the one-act comedy entitled “ My Turn Next” was performed in really first-class style by a number of local amateurs. The following was the caste of characters : Taraxicum Twitters (a village apothecary), Mr G. Ebert ; Tim Bolus (his professional assistant), Mr P. Johnson ; Tom Trap (a commercial traveller), Mr T. Williams; Farmer Wheatearf from Banbury), Mr F. Pavitt; Lydia (Twitter’s wife), Miss Hould ; Cicely (her sister;, Mies Berger; Peggy (Twitters’ housekeeper), Miss V. Pavitt. The scene is laid down in Twitters’ shop parlour, and the management must certainly be complimented on the complete manner in which that part of their work was carried out, the stage presenting a very cosy and home-like sppearance&The plot is based upon the home-comm"!, of Twitters’ recently married wife, and the sudden chauge in his feelings towards her owing to information as to her antecedents which he received from Peggy, Tom Trap, and. Farmer Wheatear, who had respectively known her as Mrs Green, of Gloucester, White, of Warwick, and Mrs Black, of Banbury, whereas he (Twitters) had only known her as the widow of the late Mr Brown, of Bedford. At the commencement Tim Bolus tells Tom Trap that his master is “ worry excitable and naterally navvious by natur; while as for 'apicioua, why,

once 'e gets a liidea into ’is ’ed, there ain’t never no getlin’ it out agin.” As his informants all stated that the lady’s former partners had “ disappeared very mysteriously after eating mushroom ketchup,” Twitters’ suspicions as a chemist are aroused. Space will not allow of our following out the details. Suffice it to Bay that matters are eventually satisfactorily cleared up, but before that happy denouement is reached, tl ©re is a series of very laughable attempts on the part of Twitters to escape what lie considers his impending doom, Dinner was served up in a very realistic manner-—cold boiled fowl, potatoes, ale, etc, including mushroom ketchup —and the by-play between Twitters and Tim Bolus caused great amusement, the latter eagerly eating the viands and drinking the ale which his master passed to him untas'-ed thinking they were poisoned. Whore all performed their parts admirably, it would, as a role, be deemed invidious to single out anj y articular actor for special praise, but we venture to think that, on this occasiou, no one will object to our awarding the palm to Mr Ebert, as Taraxicum Twitters (the inventor of the celebrated Triumph’ Tincture). His acting was considerably above the ordinary amateur level, and verged closely to that of the “pro.” Everything went off (including the Munderbus) without a hitch, and the services of the prompter were fortunately uot brought into requisition, although his bodily presence was manifest to the greater part of the audience. After the conclusion of the comedy, the Hall was eleared for dancing, which was kept up until midnight. Everybody expressed themselves as being highly pleased with the entertainment, and it is rumoured that another will be giveu in about a month’s time.