ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 71, 13 March 1908, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE. The grand musical and dramatic entertainment which took place at St..Mary's Hall last evening .in aid oi Ine Maori Girls' School, was in every way it success. Long before the commencejnent of I lie programme the building was overllowingly full. The first portion of the programme tool; the form of a con' cert, all the items being well rendered. In several instances encores were demanded. The items were: —Overture, .Mr. W. Perry's orchestra; recitation, Mrs. llaslam (encored); song, Mr. Ar-c-he (encored); song, Mrl E. Clarke; song, Miss O. Kelly; song, Mr. ,1. Hnslani; pianoforte solo, Miss Warren (encored); select ion, Perry's orchestra. "THE STRANGE ADVENTURES OF MR. HUMMINGTOP"

Was the title of the comedy forming tlie second part. Those taking part acquitted themselves most creditably. The piece abounds in ludicrous situations, and in tlie hands of the amateurs taking I part the characters were splendidly delineated. Mr. F. ,). Easthcr as Arthur lluinminglop, a young man whose domestic affairs liecomo so involved Hint he resorts to all manner of intrigue and subterfuge in order that his mother-m----law may not become suspicious of liiß unfaithfulness to his absent wife, had a very difficult role, which he carried out in « masterful manner. He first of all makes all sorts of statements in order to allay his mother-in-law's suspicions. Finding that this lands him in a dilemma from which there is no chance of retreating, he decides to "own up," only to he cornered worse than ever by his wife's mother. Mrs. Fred. Watson, wlio played the difficult part of "Mrs. Gillibra'nd" I the mother-in-law), acquitted herself with distinction. The sublime manner in which she "badgered" her son-in-law, cornering him on every statement he volunteered, was really capital.

and the audience wore nut slow to appreciate her i-xwlli-nt attinj?- 'luslma (Jillibrand. tin l "dude" of the piece, was. •.mws*fully impersonated by Mr. (.'. Biniiiii!»tt>n. til'' pari of Ocorgie llmnmingiop (wife of Arthur lluiuniinglop) \v«n taken liv Miss Olive King, who did the part full justice, her acting being as natural as' it was charming. The part of Rosa Colombier (the gutta-percha <rirl) was borne by Mrs. H. Ward. The role was a dillicult one, but was skilfully pourtrayed. The other parts were successfully undertaken by the following ladies and gentlemen:—Ralph Ormerod (Hummingtop's friend), Mr. E. Horrebin; Dobson (the butler), Mr Bert Griffiths; Daisv Mnitlnml (niece of Huinming'lopl, >iiss Dora liedford; liarbara (the housemaid), Miss Alice Ilrewster. The dressing and staging were on an elaborate cale. The .stage was rather on the small side, considering the number of characters eng .gcd. Wo hope to sec "Vne Advcntnvos of Mr. Hummingtop" put on "the boards" at the Theatre lioval at a later date.

\Ye are asked to stale that th,. piano u-cd was lent l>y the Dresden Co., and Unit the scene was painted by Mr Fred Stephens. The sum o£ £W was taken at the doors.