IRISH RED CROSS EFFORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1918, Page 8

IRISH RED CROSS EFFORT.

"EMERALD LIGHTS" CONCERT, The "Emerald Lights" concert, which forms part of the Irish Day Red Cross effort, was given in the Good Templar Hall last night, and drew a crowded audience, who thoroughly appreciated the whole programme presented. A great deal.of preparation had been made for the occasion, and an entertainment of an unusual character was arranged. The proceedings opened with a pianoforte overture by Miss Bennett, who played "Curieuse Historic" (Heller), after which the "Lights" took charge, and gave several choruses with a good deal of vim, which afforded the audience great delight. These were followed by musical drills and tableaux, which in turn were succeeded by a dance by Misses Bennett, Fahy, Hurley and Stone. The minstrels were introduced by the chorus "The Sentinels' Moonlight Parade." Mr. Dwyer acted as interlocutor, and Messrs. Fahy and Powell took the parts of Tambo and Bones respectively, and a good deal of merriment was infused into the proceedings by the many witticisms and local "gags"' introduced. During this part of the programme songs were given by Misses R. Whittle, Allen, (J. Hurley and

,T. Bennett, Messrs. Powell, Trehey and Fahy, the latter giving a lvumercms number wliich caused much amusement. The full chorus then sang the coon song "Dinah," after which the chief figures in the minstrel party gave an "Exhibition of Hypnotism." The second part of the programme opened with another pianoforte overture by Miss Bennett, followed by a French dance by Miss Callaglian. Vocal items were given by Misses E. Young and May Fahy, and Mr. Fahy, after which the "Rev. G. W. A. L. T.'lt. W. Stiggins" delivered a ''Nigger Sermon." The programme concluded with a ludicrous oneact, farce entitled "An Jdeal Court," in which a number of prisouers were arraigned on charges of a most heinous nature, and dealt with according to the principles of "justice." The whole affair was most amusing, and a sensation was created when a lady prisoner, in endeavoring to show the court what had happened in her hotel on a certain evening, I performed a graceful dance in the "court," in which she was ultimately joined by the learned judge, who, announced his intention of acquitting her, in spite of the jury's verdict of "guilty." The east for the farce was as follows: .fudge, Mr. Dwyer; policeman, Mr. Powell; a drunk, Mr. Kelleher; witness, Mr. Whittle; lawyer, Mr. Trehey; clerk, Mr. Whittle; Italian organ grinder, Mr. Crawshaw; foreman of jury, Mr. Bennett; hotel proprietor, Mr. Fahy. During an interval a beautifully decorated basket of flowers was auctioned by Mr. Webster, and realised the sum of £5 7s Cd.

The proceedings terminated with the singing of the National Anthem. The proceeds of tho entertainment are expected to be in the vicinity of £6O, [which must be regarded■ as very satisi lac torn