OKAIN'S BAY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXII, Issue 1675, 2 August 1892, Page 2

OKAIN'S BAY.

A .'highly _u.ecet>Nful entertainment took place in the Okain's Athenaeum Hail on Friday evening, lust in aid of.'.he church funds, i'The hie night tempted a good • number of people out. although the roads were none too good after co much rain. The Rev. Mr Hami'ton presided The following was the programme :—Pianoforte duet. Mrs Walker and Miss Floridge ; song, '* Chistmas .Tree.' by a number of juveniles, who danced prettily round a tree to a very taking tune. * A dash for.a Dowry' (play). Characters: A rich widow (Madame de Cuampignon), Miss, A. J. Ware ; Lieutenant Monsgruetaire, Mr Charles Moore; Flenr_tte (mud to Madame de Champignon), Miss Mary Witre ; Tonin (valet to M. de Bjauvoiuiu), Mr B. Mcintosh. In this play a young widow very much wished to marry a German prince. The Jimrenant waa greatly in love with Madiine. fit?, however, promised to obuin an introduction to him. and managed to disguise his valet as a prince, and engaged the widow's maid as an accomplice in the aff dr. Upon being introduced, Madame Was very much disgusted at tbe uncouth manners and language of tbe prince, but who would not have overlooked tbesa for obtaining the position .of a princess, love being .a secondary .uonarJerarion, and ..only .fit for the cottage. The maid : and valet mutually.,recognised each other ' and were only foo hippy to renew the old acquaintance, rauoh to Madame's chagrin, • who how swore allegiance to her first real love, the Lieutenant. The latter had in ', vain interceded for Madame's return of hia affections, and was naturally delighted at the turn events had taken, the four individuals now happy, iv their choice. The characters were admirably sustained ia a natural and forcible manner, the curtain falling upon rounds of applause. The vocal walta, '' Swinging," followed in which the following took part:—Messrs H. Gilbert, W. Ware, H. Mason and Misses Hutchinsou, A. J., L M., and A. Ware, A, and L. Mason, E. Harris and L. Moore. This went very uioely indeed, it quite taking the fiocy of all present. A domestic farce, ' The Biack King,' wis, upott the rising of the curtain, the next item. Characters—Mrs Bounce, Miss Mary Ware; Mr Bounce, Mr John Moore ; Miss Bounca, Mi-ia Louise Moore ; Housemaid. Miss Lf War« ; Jack Blake alias Hassan, alias the Black King, Mr H. Gilbert. Here Hassan had been engaged as a footman, whose pi'ddeceßsor had been dismissed for making love to Misa Bouncp. Hassan was now very attentive to Mi-s Bounce, she being very indignant, preferring the former footman. It turned out, however, that he had made believe he was Blaok King—Mr now wishing to see his daughter

married to one of puch high rank. Miss BouDoe was delighted to find that Hassan was only pretending to be black, for he npon partly washing his face disclosed him to be her own dear Jack. The parts were so well taken that all were sorry it was so short. The stage was made to look like the interim of sitting rooms. A number of songs were rendered, each being well received and several were encored. • Beign of the Roses,* and «Tbe Bridge, Miss Hutchinson ; • Ring on Sweet Angelas,' Miss A. Jt Ware ; «The Song, that reached my Heart/ Miss E. Harris ; ' The Peacock,'Mis's A. Ware"; 'My love from o'er tbe Sea.'* Miss Claridge V"' Half Mast High,' Mrs Whitford ;' Scotch Lassie Jean ' Bnd ' Tom Bowling,' Mr H. Sefton ; ' The Arab's farewell to his Steed,' Mr Walker; • Nancy;-' ■' Mr Ware;; ' Tbe Wnrdpr's Story.' Mr Moore.- Recitation, ' The Prisoner of Chillon,' Miss Claridge. Pianoforte solo Mies Elsie Bennett. Irish Jig, Miss O'Cajlagban, This young lody danced the jig excellently, and at its conclusion had to respond to a short repetition of it, the large audience cheering her meet enthusiastically, Mr Hamilton in supporting the votes of thanks to all who bad taken part in the very excellent programme passed a deserved compliment to Miss Claridge, to whom was due the credit of the whole arranging and preparation of the evening's entertainment, stating also that be was eorry Mra Walker waa too unwell to singr The National Anthem concluded a pleasant evening.