Academy of Music.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4915, 10 October 1884, Page 2

Academy of Music.

SHORTLAND FIRE BRIGADE

ANNUAL CONCERT,

Notwithstanding the threatening aspect of the weather last evening, there was a good attendance at the above concert, and as a number of tickets have been sold in addition to those taken at the doors, the funds of the Brigade will receive a substantial addition. As a pleasant evening's entertainment the gathering was also very successful, and credit is due to Mr R. A. R. Owen (who accompanied) for the excellence of the arrangements. A quartette, " Fays and Elves," by Misses Belcher and Phillips and Messrs Catran and Steward, opened the programmee, the voices blending well together; Mr Jones was applauded for his rendition of " Tom Bowling," and Mr Bryant, who followed, was enthusiastically encored for a charac« ter song, " Limerick Races," " The Comet of the West" being substituted. Mr Ooath riveted the attention of the audience by his thrilling recitation of " The Life Boat," and Mise Brown and Mr Vowles were deservedly applauded for the duet " Very Suspicious," which caused considerable merriment. Mr S. Catran secured a hearty recall for " 3Te Gallants of England," singing " Ho! ho! hear the wild wind blow" in response, and Miss Phillips followed with " Some day," in which she was fairly successful. Mr Vowles next gave " The Maid of Athens," repeating the last verse in acknowledgment of an encore, while Mr Wiseman had to submit to a similar request for the additional verses of his new local song on •' Riparian rights and no water supply." After a short interval the second part of the programme was commenced by Messrs Vowles, Catran, and C. McLiver appearing in the trio of " The Chafers," Miss Brown afterwards giving " Willies such a tease " in so pleasing a manner as to gain an en* core. "The Blacksmith," by Mr C. McLiver, was the next item, Mr Woodward following with a comic soog entitled " The Grecian Bend," which caused roars .cf laughter, and for which an encore was demanded. The duet " Convent Bells," by Mrs Jeffries and Miss Savage, was sweetly sung, the voices blending most harmoniously. This closed the musical portion of the bill of fare, and after Mr J. McLiver had eon-, vulsed his hearers by his inimitable comicalities, Mr J. West, Superintendent, briefly returned thanks to those who had assisted the Brigade, and the laughable farce of " The Travelling Nigger," enacted by three members of the Brigade, wound up the programme. The hall was then cleared for dancing, which .was indulged in by a large number of those present, to the musical strains evoked by Messrs Martin Bros.