ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 152, 23 December 1911, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

irUDDKRS'FIELD BELI.RINGER6. Bells may not weep; hut they can laugh and sparkle and dance. This the Huddersfield Bellringers Band demonstrated in the Theatre Royal last night before a large and appreciative audience. For the interpretation 6f an air varie or sprightly, sparkling ' fantasia, bells are the thing. The .band is under special control of the conductor, Prof. A. Townend, and responded beautifully to his baton, giving a really remarkable display of the possibilities of bell-ringing even when applied to the works of highclass composers. The march "Les Paintings" opened the night's entertainment, and it was followed by a succession of attractive numbers and' selections which won frequent applause. These included "A Sailor's Life," ''Les Cloches de Cornville," '"Merry Bells Polka," "Caliph dd Bagdad," "Blue Bells of Scotland," and "Auld Eang Syne." A notable number was "Harrigan," played by two members of the band. It was of outstanding excellence, and was redemanded. "Starlight" was played one of the bellringers as a solo. It was delicately rendered, with the nearest approach to the expression of feeling which it is possible to .bring from 'bells. Miss Ella Airlie is an entertainment in herself. She captivated the audience with her opening song, "Mr. Crocodile," in which her imitation of a child's voice was true and quaint. She contributed several other humorous items, and was enthusiastically recalled by an audience that seemed, as if it could not get enough. .With Mr. George Campbell she also gave a performance on the xylophone, which is in more senses than one a hard and wooden instrument; but the performers succeeded in arousing enthusiasm and Miss Airlie responded to an encore. Mr. Campbell gave some quaint comic songs in an individual style and was twice recalled. Miss Muriel Bennett gave several soprano numbers, for which she was encored. The company is certainly one which is worth hearing. They will appear at Inglewood to-night. SACRKD CONCERT. , On Sunday evening a sacred concert will be niven. and the opening item will be Christinas hymn, ' "Christians Awake." The programme will include the overture "Tancredi," and the. following selections: "Hallelujah Chorus. - ' "Kyrie and (iloria," "William ; Tell," "Martha," "Lead Kindly J-ight," "Austrian hymn," "Nearer my God to Thee," air varie "Home Sweet Home," and "Norwegian Cradle Song."