ENTERTAINMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2395, 6 September 1892, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENT.

To those Interested in the holding of a concert at Geraldine in aid of Dr. Barnardo's Home it must have been very encouraging to see on Friday that a decided change had taken place in the state of the weather. The weather was so far from favorable the day before, that a postponement of the entertainment was mooted, but as such a thing seldom adds t® the success of an undertaking like the Barnardo concert it was decided to hold it in any weather. The success of last year's entertainment, and its excellent programme, gave these concerts a good name, and in consequence the Volunteer Hall on Friday night held a very large audience, the takings being about £3O. As on the previous occasion, one uf the pleasing features of the entertainment was the orchestral music supplied. The orchestra comprised:—Miss M. Fish (piano), Miss Collins, and Messrs T. Shercafct and E. Robson (violins), Mr Crow (clarionet), Mr Colbert (cornet),

and Mr Baughen (bass). The first piece rendered was an overture by the orchestra entitled " The Union Jack " (Carl Volti). This was given a splendid rendoring, and then the Rev. A. B. Todd addressed a few words to the audience. He gave a short account of the noble work done by Dr Barnardo in his home for destitme children, and he said that a little over a year ago an entertainment was got up in Geraldine by the Misses Fish and several enthusiastic friends, and by this means they had raised enough money to keep one child for a year in Dr Barnardo's Home. The child's name was Grace Saunders, she was three years of age, was an orphan, and as far as was known had not one relation in the world. He was glad to see that the Misses Pish were so well supported by the public in their good aim, for he was sure they deserved it. (Applause.) He was sorry to hear, however, that this year there had been a little opposition to this work. They had been told by some who criticised, " Charity begins at home." He believed this was true, but charity did not end at home, and they should not cultivate the selfish spirit. He drew their attention to the old adage " There was a man, the people thought him mad; the more he gave away, the more he had." At the conclusion of Mr Todd's address the company, consisting of Misses Andrews, Maggie Morrison, Fish, and Boswell, and Messrs H. W. Moore, Crow, Colbert, andF. Fish, sang with good effect a glee, " The House that Jack Built." Mr A. Hope came in for a good share of applause for the song "Asking Nothing More," and the trio " Memory," sung by Mrs Bartrum, Miss Fish, and Mr H. W. Moore, was worth repeating. The item which seemed to catch the taate of the audience more than i any was the song " The Japanese Fan." This received an enthusiastic encore, which was responded to. The young ladies taking part in it were : —Misses Fyf r>, M. Fisher, F. Gibson, E. Maslin, A. Bowkett, Pizzey, M. Morrison, Jones, and Burridge (3). Following this piece came Mrs F. H. Barker with the song " Mona," which she sang with a very sweet-toned voice. The duet " The Upper Ten and Lower Five," sung in character by Messrs H. W. Moore and F. Fish, was the first attempt at anything comic, and elicited an encore. Mr Moore represented the Upper Ten, and Mr F. Fi3h the Lower Five, and the get up of the latter, with clothes in rags and tatters, and boots tainted with mildew, caused a great amount of fun. Mr A. Hope has a well modulated voice, but in his next song " The Powder Monkey," he was decidedly flat. The trio (in character.) " The Three Old Maids of Lee," by Misses Collins, Dunlop, and Andrews, could not pass without an encore, and likewise Mrs F. H. Barker's song " Needles and Pius," which was exceptionally good. In response to the encore, she sang " Dear Heart." The glee "Jingle Bells," (Sleigh Ride) by the company ended the musical part of the programme. After a few minutes interval a tableau vivant of " The Little Pilgrim," was staged with stage-light effects. The angel was represented by Miss Petersen, and the Little Pilgrim in one tableau by Miriam Morrison, and another by Jennie Parker. " Auld Robin Gray" was next represented in tableau, Mrs F. H. Barker singing the verses of the song corresponding with each scene. The characters in this were taken : " Jennie," by Miss J. Orbell ; « Jamie," Mr L. Orbell; " Robin," Mr J. Winstone ; " Mother," Mrs Winstone ; and Father, Mr W. H. Whiteland. The last of the tableaux was a representation of the well-known picture "You Dirty Boy." This was portrayed by MissE. Morrison, as the mother, and Master L. Winstone as the Dirty Boy. The tableaux without an exception were very successfully carried out, and reflect credit on Mrs Winstone who had the of them. The introduction of this kind of thing in an entertainment is something novel to Geraldine, and greatly appreciated by those present. During the next interval the waltz " Little Sailors " was played by the orchestra, a number of lads singing in the vocal parts. A comedietta entitled " The Little Sentinel," brought the entertainment to the close. Mr R. H. Pearpoint successfully sustained the part of Wheedleton Coaxer, an elderly lady-killer, and Mr W. M. Moore made an excellent Captain Clarence Courtington, of the Dragoons. Sim, a young farmer troubled with " the | green-eyed monster," was given a good delineation by Mr S. Willoughby. Miss Wilson Smith as Letty Hawthorne, proprietress of a farm, as usual, acted her part well, and Miss 4, Fish as May, "The Little Sentinel," with ihb feool, natural manner of her acting called forth enthusiastic applause. Too much praise caujjot be given to the Misses Fish for the efforts they take in undertaking thesis njongerts on behalf of a good cause, and it is hoped the public will always be ready to support these philanthropic young ladies in their endeavours to do something for the distressed.