See-Saw Entertainment.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5278, 17 December 1885, Page 2

See-Saw Entertainment.

The entertainment for the benefit of St. George's Church, which has for some time been under preparation, and orer whioh the projectors hare devoted much pains, took place yesterday evening in the I Academy of Music, and we were glad to | see such a large audience. The success which attended the concert given in connection with iho Kauaeranga Buoys' and Girls' -fchools, a short time ago, at which die S^e saw waltz and the Tableaux were so highly admired, induced those who took parl in that eqtertajnpgent to give a repetition in aid of the funds of Si. George's Quu.rch, and though the programme wag in the main much, the satqe, there were tnany improvements and changes which on the whole rendered it even more highly success> ful. The See-saw walta was per formed, if possible, better in every way—in better time and with more regularity, and was so thoroughly appreciated that an encora was most enthusiastically demanded, and responded to. A very choice concert was then gone through, each number being interspersed with a tableau, the latter being most effectually shown off by different colored lights, displaying the different groups and their riph showy postumes to great effect. The first was a group of the Nine Muses, and we xqust give the ladies who took part in this tableau great credit for the steadiness with which they remained in position during a period which,' to us, seemed rather lengthened. The tableaux which followed one after the other, varied, as we have said, by a gong between each, were the same as at the previous concert, the ladies and gentlemen who took parts in the groups being also the same. Instead, however, of being all exhibited at one time on the stage •• before, which did,

not allow of their being seen at all to ad* vantage, on this occasion each tableau was shown separately, and in consequence were far more effective in their results. Where all the tableaux were so good, it is almost ucijust to mention any one in particular, but if we specially point to the lust, " The Babes in the Wood," as being one that particularly struck us—we do so not that it was any better than the others, but that the subject was one that appealed more strongly to the hearts of the audience. Great credit is due to Mr and Mrs Phillips and Miss Haselden for the high state of perfection to which, through their efforts, the children were brought in the See saw waltz, and also the costumes and the grouping of the figures. The musical portion of the programme gone through was, first, a song, " Anchored," which was given by Mr TV C. Bayldon in a very successful manner; " Wait till the Clouds roll by," by Mrs Payne, and the encore, "Eillarnoy," both songs being rendered with great sweetness and expres • «ion ; " A.B.C. Duet," by Mr and Mrs Phillips, which was warmly applauded, and for encore they gave "Love and Pride " ; " Very Nearly," by Mrs Kilgour, sung most effectively, who in response to a demand for encore gave " Five o'clock Tea "; " The Mountebank," sung by Mrs Macky in a most pleasing and able manner; and finally, "The Laird o' Cockpen," by Mr Adams. This song, which was sung in his very best style, and better than we have ever heard it sung before except by Mr Kennedy, was most enthu* siastically applauded and encored. After • brief interval, the side splitting farce of " Slasher and Crasher " was played, and kept the audience in good humor through* out. A grand grouping of all the performers, including the See-saw children, on the stage, and.tho singing by them of the National Anthem, brought a very pleasant evening's entertainment to a fitting close.