Concert and Entertainment.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3018, 17 October 1878, Page 2

Concert and Entertainment.

An entertainment tcok place last evening in the Convent School, Willoughby street, in aid of the funds of the Boman Catholic (Orphanage, Mount Sfc. Mary, Auckland. The schoolroom, which is capable of accommodating over 250 persons, was crowded from top to bottom. The programme was a very interesting one, and was strictly adhered to. The Rev. Father O'Eeily presided, and beside him was the Rev. Father Paul, the pastor of Onehunga'. * The management was under a number of the leading Catholics of the Thames, who did all in their power to make everybody comfortable. After the programme had been gone through, the Jiev. Father O'Eeily addressed the audience at some length, and . expressed the satisfaction he felt at presiding on the occasion. He concluded a very heat discourse by thanking all who had' come forward to aid in the good work. The programme opened with the glee " Hark the Curfew's solemn sound,"'which was well sung by three of the young ladies of the Convent Select School, assisted by Miss Hunter and Messrs Coney and Haydon. An instrumental duet on tiro pianos and harmonium was played in excellent time by Misses Coney, Mcllho'ae, Gibbons and Bagnall, and a ' vocal duet by Misses Hunter and Coney was ve;y sweetly rendered. Miss Dora M.acFarland played a piano solo " The Blue Bells of Scotland," in a manner that secured for her much applause, and Miss E. Walker then sang "In happy .moments." A piece entitled "The quarrel of the flowers" was then performed, the dramatis persons being as follows :—Christmas, Miss Coney; Eose, Miss Stephenson; Lily, Miss Gibbons; Fuchsia, Miss D. MacFarland; Daisy, Mils S. Coney; Violet, Miss A. Mcllhrae; Poppy, Miss Eeddy; Sweet Pea, Miss Langham; Sunflower, Miss Burke ; Cowslip, Miss Joll.* A further portion of the concert programme was next proceeded with, in which some excellent singing and instrumentation were heard. The items were too numerous to refer to in detail, but we ban • speak in the highest terms of the singing of Misses Coney, Hunter and Stevenson—the latter a debutante whose fine voice and correct singing look the audience by storm. Gibbons, Miore, Bagnall and 8. Coney played pianoforte pieces in a style which did credit to their teachers, and Miss A. Mcllhone accompanied on the harmonium. Miss Coney played " The Carnival of .Venice" in an effective manner, and,a vocal duet by Misses D. MacFarland and Coney, was much admired. , There was a vocal duet by Masters Dunn and Coney, a lecture on health by Miss Leydon,'recitation by Masters Dodd and Murphy, and ia recitation on Daniel O'Connell by Master 'Dunn, .all of which were very meritorious performances and interested the audience greatly. " Alfred the Great," a dramatic -incident in the life of the great king, was .represented by the following "cast:" Alfred (King of England, as a wanderer ;in disguise), Miss D. McFarland ; Gubba ;(a farmer), Miss Gibbons; Gaudeliu (his wife), Miss Mcllhone; Ella (an officer), Miss Coney. Mias Mcllhone's make up was the cause of much mirth. Miss A. Mcllhone played a solo on the piano, her touch and" expression being good. A glee was then sung, and a very long programme was brought I to a close by the singing of " God Save 1 the Queen." The audience enjoyed the performance thoroughly, aud were lavish of their applause, which seemed to inspire the-young lady performers with confidence. Several encores were demanded and given. Besides the substantial benefit which will accrue to the fund for which the entertainment was got up, the young ladies'and gentlemen who gave their willing services, the teachers who instructed them, and the committee of management will have the additional satisfaction of knowing that they contributed to providing a pleasant evening for a large cumber of people- Dancing was engaged in after the performance and kept up,for some time. '