AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 76, 8 July 1910, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

ST. MARY'S HALL. Despite a wet "lad cold niimt th 6,„ was a go od attendance a| n |Jt^ere Hall hut evening, when an entenaL! ment of an enjoyable nature wbTXnutted, the proceeds of which wJIJ £ tojr.ll the St. Mary's The first part of the programme was composed of vocal and taSSsS items Misses Aileen Warren andS • opened proceedings with a riuJZT duet, played , precision. Mr. W. E. M. Guy followed with a song, "Squire Bob," aid hid tj respond. Miss Clarice BuckmanW , daring of "Waiata P o i» (Sr A IS Hills quaint Maori song) JasthfgS o the evening She did the nunE full justice, and had to respond with the lost verse. For a second recalUhe sang, very sweetly, "Birth of JW Miss Buekman recently sang "Waiata Poi" before Mr. Alf. Hill J the ?Z& satisfaction of the composer. A vocal quartette, "Kathleen Mavourheen" was a good item by Misses 0. and E. Buokman and Messrs. Clarke and W. Craw- "■ ford. Miss Ward's solo, "Out on the Rocks," was given with a weaWh of expression, her full-toned voice being very pleasing. As an encore number she game "The Four-leaf Clover." The most mirthful items were Mr. J. Easther's recitations. He/opened with a laughable Scotch recitation, telling of the trials of "The Rev. Sandy Mcßme," and was so successful fiat his hearers want- ~ ed a lot more. His encore number was "How Bill Adams Won the Battle of Waterloo." Mr. E. Clarke sang "Parted," and had to respond with, the last yerse. The first half of the entertainment was brought t<- a close by an artistically played quartette by Mrs. Cornwall (piano) and Messrs. Cornwall, McEwen and Medley. i The second part provided a deal ofmewKnent for all, the farcical comedy, "Browne, with' an 'E'," being staged most successfully. The piece is one so very full of ludicrous situations, and J misunderstandings that it would taYe ™ too much space here to unravel the plot, The parts were all difficult ones tor amateurs, but were sustained in very creditable style. The scene is oet at a tourist hotel in Switzerland, near the Alps. Mrs, T. R. Southall, as Miss Ex- ' celsior Peak (the American tourist), was .' bright, and gave a lifelike delineation of the part. "Mrs. Gushington Nervesby," a difficult mother-in-low role, was splendidly played by Miss B. Evans. Miss F. Evans, as Mrs. Robert Brown"e", had a light part, which she played with grace and vivacity. Mr. W. E. M. Guy " was thoroughly natural and happy as Mr. Robert Brown. He had several awkward situations to face in bis role, and deserves credit for his excellent treatment of same. Mr~T. R. Southall, as the imposte'r, Count von Donnerwet-ter-überunterhinterberg, had a difficult . piece of acting to perform. His "getup" ' was perfect, and his characterisation of the role stamps him as an amateur of considerable ability. Altogether, "Browne with an TE'" is a splendid cure for the blues, and the artists responsible for its production last night should have a good reception when next the piece is produced. Mr. T. Southall, as stage manager' and director, deserves special mention for the excellent manner in which the comedy was staged.

WAIREKA MINSTRELS.

Despite the incelmency »f the weather and numerous counter attractions, quite a crowd assembled at the West End "Opera House" last evening, when the Wairelca Minstrels gave an entertainment. Mr. H. J. Gilbert occupied the chair. The following programme was submitted:—Pianoforte duet, Mrs. Were and Mr. Pearson; song, "Dear Home Land," Miss Blake; comic song, "Potted Poetry," Mr. Lovell; duet, "Pretty Page," Misses Gilbert; coon song, "Phoebe," Mr Putt; song, with violin obligate, Mrs. Williams; comic song, "Job Lot," Mr. Lovell; song. "Roses," Mrs. Maxwell; comic recitation, Mr. Scott./• AM' ttie items were well rendered, especially fie dnpt bv the Misses Gilbert, who were' fVlcd back to the platform several times. Mr. Lovell (as "Chalk and Water") and Mr. Putt (as "Bones") kept the audience in good humor with their comics, as did Mr. Scott with his comic recitation. The Omata Minstrels, of eleven performers, occupied the second part of the programme, and rendered a number of coon songs and comic selections, all being encored, the best being "Ttifr Tag Coon," "Jonathon ■Tones." "Put Me Amongst the Girls." "Lau'srhin« Song," etc. "Bones" and ; "Chalk and t'''+nr" bore an active part in the performance; and deserve credit for the way t'-y discharged their parts. Tire lvnll was then cleared for dancing, which was' kept going till the early I hours «f Win morning. Messrs. W. McLean and A. Wilson made efficient M's.C.