MR DE SPONG'S ENTERTAINMENTENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7819, 11 June 1909, Page 4

MR DE SPONG'S ENTERTAINMENTENT

The entertainment given by Mr de Spong, Mr W. Anderson, Madame Paddon and Miss Claridge at the Oddfellows' Hall last evening was poorly attended. The entertainment was up to a hitth standard, and had it not been for the many attractions which immediately preceded it, as well as those which are to follow, the audience would doubtless have been much larger. Mr De Spong, though so ably assisted last evening, is, single-handed, quite capable of entertaining an audience for almost any length of time, and his every appearance last night was hailed with applause. He gave ample evidence of his powers as an elocutionist, by putting himself to the severest tests, and m every item he was successful m his art and with his audience. "The Bells" (by Edgar Allen Poe) showed Mr De Spong at his best, and "The Game of Life," "The man with the single hair," and others were well up to the popular elocutionist's high standard. Madame Paddon was m good voice, and was successful m each of the three songs she sang: "Because" (by F, Cowan), "Aye Maria" (intermezzo by Maseagni, with violin obligato by Miss Ethel Claridge) and "Cutting Rushes," an Irish song by O. Welleby. Mr W. Anderson's fine baritone was heard to advantage m "Sands of Dee," "Into Thy Hands" and "Emblem." Miss Claridge played the accompaniments with skill and sympathy.