ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1919, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE KENNEDYS. The Kennedy company of entertainers made a very favorable impression at the opening performance of their New Plymouth season at the Empire Theatre last night. They were greeted by a good audience, which showed a keen appreciation of the programme presented and of the work of the artists who carried it .through. The class of entertainment given by the Kennedys is entirely new to New Plymouth coucert-goers, and is distinctly refreshing. While keeping fa;th with the ideals of a classic art, they avoid overloading their auaience with works that tax the average understanding, and they have introduced just that class of musical comedy which, while providing mirth and merriment that are irresistible, never descends to : the commonplace. The first half of the (evening was devoted to a well-balanced programme of concert items, the prinl cipal part in which was the work of Mr. Keith Kennedy, who is an able exponent of the violin. He is an accomplished musician in both the realm of practical execution and in composition. He has an easy and flexible manner in both bowing and fingering, and produces a tone of breadth and warmth which stamps him as a true artist. He has, as well, the musical temperament, and his interpretation of the various numbers selected was marked by a depth of tone coloring which made his work very enjoyable. His first solo was a Rondo Brilliant ot his own composition, which evoked spontaneous applause. Later in the first half he gave the well-known "Devil's Trill Sonata" (Tartini) bracketed with another selection from his own pen entitled "Song of the Birds," and in both numbers his executive powers were given ample scope. In the second part lie played T'eisler's "Liebesfreud" In the matter of encores he was most generous, and responded readily to ,the insistence of the audience.

Miss Bronwen Fairhall (soprano) presented Del Acqua's "Vilahelle'' and Gounod's "Serenade" (the latter with violin obligato by Mr. Kennedy), and for a young artiste gave very acceptable readings of these somewhat exacting works. Miss Mimmie Boaidjieff (mezzosoprano), a pleasing ballad singer, sang "0 Soul of Mine" and other songs with very good effect, though she was undoubtedly suffering from a slight huskiness in her voice last night. The two ladies were heard in several duets, in which their voices blended well.

The comedy element of the entertainment was in the capable hands' of Miss Jennie Cree and Mr. Ad Cree. The genuine humor of her monologues was infectious, and .the audience enjoyed her clever work immensely. Mr. A Cree is a versatile entertainer, and his character songs were greatly appreciated. His humor was notable for its freshness and for the absence of the hoary chestnuts usually inflicted by alleged comediarfß. In duets .the two were even more successful, their best number probably being "Sandy's Courtship," a production by Mr. Cree himself.

In concerted work the party also appeared with good effect. There was one feature of the work, however, which might with discretion he improved. At times the vocal work suffered by a little i over-heavy instrumentation. All the performers were heartily encored, and they treated the audience liberally in this respect, most of the recalls being popular melodies. The accompaniments were sympathetically played by Madam Bertha Kennedy. The Kennedys appear again to-night with an entirely new programme.