DRAWING ROOM ENTERTAINMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2387, 26 July 1892, Page 3

DRAWING ROOM ENTERTAINMENT.

Owing to illness and other causes the attendance at the Geraldine Public School for sometime past has been very unsatisfactory. As a remedy for this state of things the Committee recently resolved to give good substantial prizes as a draw for regular attendance at School, and with this object in view, to raise sufficient funds, a drawing-room entertainment was held on Friday evening in the Volunteer Hall. The weather on that occasion was very unfavourable, but, fortunately for ; the" Committee, this did prevent a large number of persons from putting in an appearance. The programme waa a very lengthy and varied one, but the audience, evidently anxious to hear the farce, was not in a humour for encores, and so the musical part of the programme was got through in less time than was expected. The programme in the first part opened with children’s action songs, and it goes without saying that the infants under the guidance of Miss Pearson acquitted themselves well. A pianoforte solo, played in a well-finished style hy YAh Fish, came next, and after it followed songs by the senior pupils, under the charge of Mr Colbert. A number of the . dressed in sailor costpmp occupied the foreground of the stage, and the oth e ? children were arranged ju tiers at tlw

j back. The songs sung by them were well received by the audience, and were entitled “ A Sailors Life,” “ Soldier and Sailor ” and “ The Soldier’s Grave.” The second part of the programme was commenced by a pianoforte selection “Teufels Marsch” played in an excellent manner by Miss Pryde, and then a small chior of local singers contributed a glee, “Hark the Lark.” Mr Calder was deservedly applauded for his singing of “ True till the Last,” and Miss Andrews’ song “ When the ship comes Home ” was very acceptable. The quartette “ Foresters Sound the Cheerful Hoxti ” was a good item, and was taken part in by Miss Andrews and Messrs H. M. Moore, C. E. Sherratt, and Calder. Mr Robson song, “ The Gauntlet,” Mr H. M. Moore’s song, “ The Romany Lass,” and Mr Calder’s song “ The Boys of the Old Brigade,” were each favourably received. The only encore of the evening was given to Miss Dunlop and Mr Robson for their duet “Albion on the Fertile Plains” which seemed to greatly please the audience. The songs “ The Fourleafed Shamrock ” by Miss Andrews, and “The Stirrup Cup” by Mr H. M. Moore were nicely rendered, and the choir closed the second part of the programme with the glee “ Sweet and Low.” The third and last part of the programme was introduced by an instrumental trio by Mr Robson (violin), Mr Colbert (harp), and Mr Baughen (harp). After this, as a finale to the progaamme, the farce “ The Manager in a Fix” was staged, and caused great amusement amongst the small fry. The manager was well taken by Mr Mcllroy, and Mr G. Kraus was at home on the stage as “ Pete,” a plump old darkey. Mr W. Wiuefield sustained the part well of “ Blucker,” a man who had nothing else to do but thump people over the head with blown-up-bladders dangling at the end of a stick. Mr T. Bowkett, as the “ First Applicant,” and Mr H. Baughen as the “ Second Applicant,” filled their parts well. The antics of Messrs Kraus and Winefield caused a great deal of merriment, but there was one great fault about the farce, and that was a want of connection. Those taking part in it seemed to come and go on the stage without any reason whatever, and there* seemed to be neither plot nor point. However, the audience had a good hearty laugh, and were sent away in a good humour. During an interval in the performance, Mr G. Tayler, chairman of the Committee, came on to the platform and moved a hearty vote of thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who assisted in making the concert a success. The committee, headmaster, and school teachers should be thanked for their energy in getting up the entertainment, and it is to be hoped that the prizes they propose to buy, will be sufficient inducement to secure a better attendance at school. We omitted to mention that Misses Fish and Pryde played the accompaniments during the evening and gave undoubted success.