CAPRICE SOIREE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1795, 27 September 1888, Page 3

CAPRICE SOIREE.

Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather there was a large attendance at the entertainment in aid of the funds of St. Saviour’s Church, held in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, last Tuesday evening. As the Rev, Mr “ Hamilton remarked when moving a ’'vtote of thanks at the dose of the ■.Entertainment, the Church of England . ’ people are generally very unfortunate as regards the weather they get for their entertainments, bazaars, and other enterprises in connection with their Church, and though last Tuesday’s effort was a novelty, which might very well have mollified the clerk of the weather, it did not suffice. They got the same old kind of weather which on so many previous occasions had greatly marred the success of their entertainments. Bain fell in torrents all the afternoon, and continued to pour down with unabated persistency during the evening, and yet, notwithstanding this, the attendance was large, many even from Geraldine being present. The entertainment opened with the over- % ture to the opera of the “ Bohemian Girl, commencing with “ I Dreamt that I Dwelt in Marble Halls,” which was excellently rendered by Mr Haigh’s band of five instruments, namely, piano, violin, double bass, cornet, and flute, played by Mr Haigh and his four sons. They also played the “Turkish Patrol,”.. and the “Blue Danube” splendidly, and - elicited tremendous applause. Their playing was the great feature of the entertainment. Next canw in, singing

and dancing gracefully, a troupe of 20 ladies and gentlemen dressed in fantastic sailor costumes. They sang several sea songs, and illustrated them with amusing actions, alternating between the mazy waltz and pulling ropes, and performing other sailor-like functions. They were loudly applauded on retiring, Miss Haigh sang “Caller Herrin” and also 11 Ciascun la Dice ” from the 11 Daughter of the Regiment ” splendidly. She has a fine resonant voice or great flexibility, and is certainly a splendid singer. The trio the 11 History of the Fan,” given by Mrs Cargill and the Misses Cooper and Lovegrove, was another item that was fully appreciated and loudly applauded, and the umbrella trio, by Messrs Smithson, Cargill, and Jones, elicited an encore to which they responded with a verse containing some local hits, Their 11 get-up ” was gorgeous. It was indescribably grotesque, especially that of Mr Jones, who was very funny. The next item consisted of songs by amateur infants. One of the infants was Mr Wood, barrister and solicitor, Timaru, who stands over six feet in his stockings, The children sang 11 Cock Robin ” and other melodies of an equally intellectual kind excellently, and, literally speaking, brought down the house. This completed the first part of the entertainment, which was really amusing, and reminded one of 11 Patch-work,” which some ten years ago created a Jurore throughout the colony. During an interval of half-an-bour refreshments were handed round and partaken of. The refreshments consisted of cake, sandwiches, etc., and tea, of which there was an excellent and abundant supply. The second part of the performance consisted of a most amusing comedietta, entitled “The Steeplechase.” The plot of this is that a certain Dr Clipper has run away with a tallow chandler’s niece, and has also to ride in a race at Southampton, where he expects to make his fortune. He is closely pursued by a sheriff’s officer, who wants to arrest him for debt. In the hotel where he is staying is a certain Mr Tittums, who has come to meet his wife, and whose clothes have been stolen. Mr Tittums, finding himself with nothing to wear, steals Dr Clipper’s jockey’s suit, and so as to avoid arrest for the theft he agrees to assume Dr Clipper’s name and status, and to ride in the race. Then comes Alderman Slowcoach, the uncle of the runaway bride, and thenceforward there is nothing, hut mistakes and confusion. The acting of Mr Cargill as Tittums, and Mr Jones as Alderman Slowcoach was excellent. It was far and away superior to the general run of amateurs. Mr G-oodall as a waiter acquitted himself well, but dressed and looked the part better. Mr Smithson did well as the sheriff’s officer, and Mr Bullock looked and acted the part of the scapegrace, Dr Clipper, capitally. The ladies’ parts were taken by Miss Lovegrove as Mrs Tittums, Miss GK Lovegrove as Mrs Clipper, and Miss Mee as the chambermaid. They had not a great deal to do, but small as the parts were, they showed that they had given them care and attention, and that they had a correct conception of them. On the whole this part of the entertainment was exceedingly well done, and when the curtain fell the performers were recalled. The Rev. Mr Hamilton next proposed a vote of thanks to the performers, and to the ladies who had supplied the tea, which was carried by acclamation, and the entertainment came to a close by the singing of the National Anthem.