ENTERTAINMENT AT TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2682, 19 September 1889, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENT AT TE AWAMUTU.

Ax eutertaininout and dance in aid of tha funds of St. John's Anglican Church was held in the Public Hall, Te Awamutu, on Thursday evening last, and proved a great success. The weather being fine, there was a large attendance, including visitors from Jvihikihi, Alexandra, and (thanks to the wisdom of the promoters in giving it publicity in the columns of Tick Waikato Timks) from even as far away as Cambridge and Hamilton, and the result must have been highly satisfactory to the promoters, and ihould add a .substantial sum to the funds of the Church. The Rev. R. G. Boler occupied the chair. The proceedings were opened with a pianoforte duet by the Misses Archer, of Kihikihi, which was excellently rendered and displayed to advantage the musical abilities of these two young ladies. Miss Archer also played a pianoforte solo during the evening, and accompanied most of the singers, in her usual first-class style, and for which she certainly deserves a good mead of praise. The glees, " Hark the Lark," " Dame Durden," and "Calm be Thy Slumbers," were well given at intervals by the Company, and reflected credit upon the conductor, Mr Burgess. The songs " True to the Last," and " Will o the Wisp," by Mr Rigg, in that gentleman's pleasing style, were well received. Song, " Apart," hy Mrs Long was sweetly sung, and well desMved tho loud applause it received. Mr Whitehouse, a, visitor from Hamilton, sang "Sweethearts and Wives" and "Now Zealand by the Sea," and for each of these. items had to respond to an enthusiastic encore. His clear tenor voice was heard to great advanaage, and we hope to hear hi mi again taking part in some of our futiiio entertainments. The "See-Saw Waltz" was performed by about twenty children, and was simply splendid. The children, who were all very young, pretty, mid neatly dressed, had only been rehearsing for a short time, and by their pretty singing and graceful acting, reflected the highest credit upon the instructors—Mesdames Gresham, Andrew and Long and Miss Crookes—and these ladies, as well as the parents of t/ie children who were present, may well feel proud of their success. The see-saw it-elf, which was occupied by four of tho youngest children, was prettily decorated, as also wero the stage and surroundings, and the effect, as the see-saw moved slowly "up and down and now off to London town," with the children all singing and dancing around, and all appearing to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, was really beautiful, and your old bald-headed correspondent longed again "for the days when he was young," so that he, too, might enjoy the fun. The audience were delighted, and, with tremendous applause, insisted upon a> repetition of the pleasing scene, which was graciously acceded to, the young performers, at its close, receiving quite a shower of bouquets, which, by the way, were pretty evenly bestowed upon each of the performers during the evening. The next item was the song "OraPro Nobis," by Mrs Burgess, which was capitally rendered in that lady's best style, her rich voice giving good effect to the sweet music of the song. A duet, "The ABC," by Mr and Mrs Burgess, was also very well sung, and although Mr Burgess was suffering from a severe cold, the audience were not content until an encore was acceded to. An illustrated comic duet, " Grandfather's Farm," by Messrs Vause and Whituhouse, was one of the funniest and one of the bust items we have ever enjoyed. Their singing and acting was immense, and simply convulsed the audience, and when they responded to a unanimous, and not to be denied encore, and gave a still funnier item, tho audience simply shrieked and rolled about in their s-jats with laughter, and many of us have not yet got over the pains in our sides, or recovered our saiious every day countenances. Mr Vause later in the evening also sair: " The Parson and Clerk," in which the acting and make up were perfect, and again fairly broughtdown the house, and responding to an encore, sang "The Ladies," and "Queen of the Earth " and " My Catechism" very well, and in each instance narrowly escaped an encore. Mrs Smith, who by the way made hsr first appearance before a Te Awamutu audience, sung very nicely "The Golden Shore," and created a very favourable impression. " Tho Three Little Maids from School," by Misses Crooks, Storey, and Smith, was splendidly acted and sung. The dresses worn by these ladies were extremely pretty, (as indeed are the ladies themselves) and the effect was charming. Of course these young ladies had to submit to an enthusiastic encore, and meekly obliged by repeating their performance. Mrs Andrew, one of our popular favourites who is always as welcome nnd as well received as she is ready to aid a good cause, sang " I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls " very nicely, and was loudly applauded. Mr Burgess whose name appeared on the programme for two solos was unable to sing them, but in the duet with Mr Whitehouse, "Oh, Albion," he was highly successful, their voices blending well together in pleasant harmony, and delighted the audience. "God Save the Queen" brought to a close one of the most enjoyable entertainments we have had in the district. The room was afterwards cleared for dancing, which was entered into with great spirit by a very large number, who tripped the light fantastic until " the short wee hours ayont the twal."