ENTERTAINMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2686, 17 July 1894, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENT.

A capital variety entertainment was held in the Volunteer Hall, Geraldine, on Friday evening in aid of the fundi of the local cricket club. The attendance, especially in the front seats, was all that could be desired, and one thing worthy of notice about the entertainment was that the audience were exceptionally well treated for their money, the last item on the programme concluding after eleven o'clock—encores hating been, in fact, too numerous : during the evening. Mr R. H. Pearpoint officiated as chairman, and called upon Miss A. and Mr F. Fish to open the programme with a pianoforte duet, which they, played in a brilliant manner. : The next item was* .an extremely pretty tableau, called " Ceres and the seasons. Mrs Hislop made a capital Ceres, and the other parts were ably portrayed by the following ladies:—Miss E. Orbell, Storing j Miss Smith, Summer; Miss Orbell, Autumn; Miss Preston, Winter. This item was redemanded. Mr R. Borrows received a well-deserved encore for a powerful rendition of" Only once more,'' and responded with " Let me like a soldier fall." Mr Bryant was loudly encored for a sailor's hornpipe, which he danced with considerable agility. Master John Pye made his debut as a comic singer, and for one so young he gave a very'" creditable performance of the " Dispensary Doctor," in charabter. Then oame a tableau by the children, " Nursery Rhyme," which was taken part in by Misses Maggie Morrison (the Fairy Q ueen),Mabel Burridge(Bo-peep),Maggie Maloney (old woman with a broom), Daisy Parker (Little Red Riding Hood), and Gladys Sugden (Little Miss Muffett), and Masters Harold Pearpoint (Jack Horner), Walton (little old man with a gun), Scott (Simple Simon), and Maslin (Boy JBlue). Miss Maggie Morrison sang her part very sweetly. Mrs F. Barker contributed the next song, " The miller and the maid," sung with power and particularly good enunciation. For an imperative recall Mrs Barker gave "i Molly Bawn." The next item, as the chairman announced, was not on the printed programme, as it was only at the last moment they found that they could secure the services of Mr Henri Reunart, one of the most eminent baritone singers of Otago, if not of New Zealand. Mr Reunart then gave a most successful rendition of "The village blacksmith," for which he was vociferously encored, aud gave " Sailors' Hearts."' Messrs Crowe and Sugden received great applause for a banjo duet, which was succeeded by the tableau " Hunting Day." In this there were four scenes, the parts being taken as under : The Farmer, Mr L. Orbell; Doctor, Mr A. Orbell; Judge, Mr Wm. K. Macdonald; Parson, Mr B. R. Macdonald. The first part of the programme concluded with a song by Mr Bum, "Polly," that elicited an encore, in response to which Mr Burn Bang "The old banjo" in a capital manner. The second part of the entertainment was opened by a pianoforte, duet, nicely played by Miss Albert and Master Pye. Mr H. W. Moore's rendering of " Bonny Dundee " received welldeserved favor, and he had to respond to an encore. The tableau "The Three Graces" and "The Three Disgraces," in two scenes, wan the next item. "The Three Graces" were Mrs H. Smith and Misses Smith and Temple, and the three " Disgraces" were Messrs R. H. Pearpoint, B. R. Macdonald, and Beckett. Mr Sugden's musical sketch was most amusing, and brought dowa the house. Mr Reunart favored the audience with a most pathetic interpretation of " The Lifeboat," and was louJly applauded. StUI another tableau was staged, entitled "The Nations," which made a very effective scene. Miss Orbell represented " Britannia," Miss Temple " England," Miss Macdonald "Scotland," Miss E. I Orbell "Waleß," and Mrs H. Smith "Ireland." Mr R. Skinner next made things lively with a bagpipe solo, quite a new feature for an entertainment, but ano that took well. Mr B. R. Macdonald followed with a comic song. "Daddy wouldn't buy me a bow-wow," sung in character ia a most grotesque schoolgirl uniform. The last tableau but one was " The Milkmaids, ancient and modern," in two scenes. Miss Macdonald and Mr Crow were the "ancients," and Mrs Hislop and Mr F. Fish took the part of the "moderns." Mr Reunart again scored a success with "The death of Nelsou," sung in rattling style, followed with "A warrior bold" for au encore. Mr Burn also made a hit with "The last of the boys," aud the entertainment closed with one of the best tableaux of the evening, entitled " Advertisements," the parts being taken thus: "Pears' Sqap,'< Misa Orbell; " Suulight Soap," Miss B, Orbell; « Fry's Cocoa," Mrs H. Smith ; ''Cadbury'i Cocoa," Miss Macdonald; "Monkey Brand," Mr B. R. Macdonald; "Old Judge Cigarettes," Mr W. K.. Macdonald; '(Cigarettes," Miss Temple; MChorry Blossom," Mrs Hislop; <<Mo,ther. Gamp," Mis 3 Sn^ ith i•' Cigarettes," Misa Preston ; " The Local Christy Minstrels," Mr QroWt The taken all

round, wu an excellent one, the tableaux being a specially interesting feature. Much of the credit for working up the entertainment u due to Dr and Mrs Hislop, while Miss A. Fish rendered valuable assistance as accompanist on the piano. ,__^^_______