RED CROSS "OUR DAY" APPEAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1918, Page 8

RED CROSS "OUR DAY" APPEAL.

MINSTREL ENTERTAINMENT. The idea of organising a minstrel troop for an entertainment for the Red Ctoss "Our Day" Appeal proved a happy | inspiration, and the concert given in the Good Templar Hall last night drew a crowded audience, and everyone present thoroughly enjoyed the evening's diversion. Die stage was well arranged and the dressing was excellent. The programme opened with the c-horuses "Swanee River" and "Camptown Races" by the troupe, and then the items given were: Song, "Rosalie", Chloe (Mrs. Wilkes); song, "Ain't yer ma honey," Tarnbo (Mr. W. McEwan); song. "My old Kentucky Home," Uncle Ned'fMr. A. Veale); song, "Jonathan Jones," Massa Johnston (Mr. p. Asher); song, "Alabama Coon," Topsy : (Miss V. Gilbert); song, "Land of Hope and Glory," Dinah (Miss Edwards); chorus, "Ding, Don", Ding," Uncle Tom (Mr. W. Okey) and troupe; song, "Under the Mango' Tree," Uncle Joe (Mr. S. 11. Dunstan); character sketch,- Topsy; and son, "Good night," Chloe and troupe. As a finale the whole party sang the last verse of Tjand of Hope and Glory." Other members of the party were Miss Cliong and Mr. \\ atkins. The jocular patter and witticisms carried on by the interlocutor (Mr. P. Asher) and Bones (Mr. B. Bellringer), and Tambo (Mr. W. McEwan) were highly amusing, some of the local "gags'' being very cleverly arranged and" created roars of laughter! Mrs. Wilkes and Miss Gilbert were the recipients of beautiful bouquets. In addition to the minstrel items. Sergeant-Major Gill sang "Nirvana," and as an encore he gave "For Che Green." ' i: During an interval a very amusing auction was conducted by Mr. and Mrs. "Dolittlo" (Messrs R. Ellis and J. W. ITtiyden). The goods offered consisted of gifts of confectionery, a basket of flowers and a beautiful afternoon tea-table cloth inado by hand by Nurse Grigson. The latter gift reached about £3O, being finally knocked down to Mr. Newton King for £'lo. A cake donated by Mr. Findlay was sold several times over, netting £0 7s 6d, and a cake given by Mrs. A. Ambury brought £4. A basket of flowers donated by Mrs. R. C. Hughes realised 355. Other gifts sold brought the total value of the auctioning to about £SO.

There were a number of minstrel attendants about the lmll selling sweets and souvenir programmes, and this effort cleared about £7 Ids.

The whole entertainment is expected to produce over £IOO, the house itself beinsf worth over £SO.

The entertainment was organised bv Mrs. Hugh Baily, and was produced under the management of Mr. Baily. Mr. J. Ainsley was stage manager, and Mrs. Bartlev costumier. The music was produced under the sole direction of Mr. R. N. Renaud, who played all the accompaniments. Those responsible have every reason to be proud of the result, bot% from the entertainment point of sum and &ko the financial return.