MONDAY NIGHT'S CONCERT AT HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 606, 6 April 1876, Page 2

MONDAY NIGHT'S CONCERT AT HAMIL TON.

As we hare already state i, the concert gi Ten under the alupioet ot the Hamilton Entertainment Uoihdnttee, on Monday erehin^ last, was in every sense of the word an imnieuse success. Attractive as have been the many concerts arranged by this Committee since its formation, it never before succeeded in drawing together sllcha " bumper house" as on the oecatiou m question ; in t'aot wo do not recollect ever "Seeing such a large HsSeuv binge At any prdvions entertainment given in the districts. The prime tnbvor in the " getting up" of the entertainment was our esteemed member for Waipa. A Cox, !Esq fbis gentleman worked tnoit iiidetatigably to make the performance a success. In the wdfds(slij{lit.y altered) of a celebrated poet : What e'er He's done for Waikato, He's done it with a zost, To preach or spdnt or " raise a apfee" He's dove his level best. To oast the parti of" Bardell r Pickwick," and get performer* up to the mark in so short a time was one difficult of accomplishment, but it vr*§ accomplished, and, at the sequel proved, the piece went off swimmingly, as did also the preceding portion ot the pro- | gramme. By half jJast soreuthe Court-liouse sefemed to be ts lull as it could hold, but people strll continued t6 pour in, and it was ( only by jamming forms and chairs into every conccivalito cranny, and packing them un tue top of shelves, Window ledges, m the jury, witdess, and prisoners' boxes that roam was made for all ot the visitors. The unfortunate member of the Fourth Estate who was present to represent the Timbb, had to contem h uiself with A seat on the back rail of a cauo oottomed chair, while hit hmd and »li lulders served as an excellent footstool t, )V B jdi' dOiSen urcains seated on the prisoner's Doi immediately above ; but the moon Teaicucc felt by the c owUing of the room was ■levelled vrliou the performance oommeuced. Ttio lirst thing on the programme was u Clingy concert, in which several we'l-known Kamilionians took part and amused the audience with a number ufCurigty songs and local hits, whioh put them in the best of Uum'ouVs. The second part of me perform»aoe was opened by a qua ijtte in which Jliss Bali, who possesses a noh oontral»o r.jioe, Mrs Yon Stunner, Mr W Hum, and Mr Culpia look part, followed by t duet by Mjn Yon Smrmer tud Mm Jtell which wer«

both well received, Then lollowedsongs, glees, and trk>B, by lady nnd gentlemen Amateurs all of J which were greatly appreciate, and several deservedly encqreU 1 "Jiardell v Pickwick" was then brought Co the fore, the leading cfraraotyrs lof Jwhich were taken by Messrs Cor, (Judpe) ; R W Hammond, (Buzfuz) ; Sandes (Suubbin) ; L O'Neill, (Winkle) and R Gwynne, (Pickwick). Mr Hammond's Buzfuz was worthy of all praise. Mr Cox made a most dignified looking judge, and seemed as if he had been accustomed to sit on the Jadical Bench from his youth upwards, Mr Mylrea's Sam Welier was well taken, but whether the original Sam previously to his being called as a witaesj made grimaces at the jury or any of the auditory, the Writer of Pickwick has left us in blissful ignorance ; since the production of the piece on Monday night, we feel sure suchmust have been the case. Mr McQovern'a " Soilence in the Ooort" was always a signal for uproarious laugliter. Altogether the piece Was capitally played.notwithatanding the difficulties under which the performers laboured. One thing which greatly conduced to the success of the vocal part of the entertainment was the exceltem pianoforte accompaniments 'of Mrs A Cox, and a beautifully executed pianoforte ttblo by Mrs Hay. Without wishing to appear invidious, we may state that the duets ot Mr and Mrs Culpan wore the gems of the eveufng, and met Well-merited approbation. This lady and gentleman possess well-culti-vated voic6s, and were most certainly an acquisition to the concert of Monday evening. One great disappointment was felt by many of those present. Jt was 'generally understood that Captain Beere, Waikato's laureate, was to recite his poem on the late election ot Mr Cox, but for some reason or other this gentleman did not come forward In no other respect did anything occur to mar the harmony of the evening. Mr Cox did much towards the successful isfcue of the concert, but we think the cramming of the house was greatly to be attributed to the far-sightedness of the Committee in advertising so extensively. A few more concerts advertised in a similar manner, but perhaps occupying an inch or , two more of space would bring in sufficient funds to build a Public Hall, - purchase i piano, and perhaps throw in a lamp or two, We would advise them to try the experiment. We hope to see these entertainments continued monthly with the same success as on the last pcasion.