CAMP-FIRE CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 30, 4 February 1916, Page 7

CAMP-FIRE CONCERT.

ENTERTAINERS IN HIIAKI.

The "Auckland residents who crowded, .H-is Majesty's Theatre to the doors last night weie given a coiulortiug .-guinuse of uue aspect o£ so-idiers' camp life that pleased them mightily. -Fighting tit, aiid ready for the eventualities of the nriug Hue, about sixty members or' tbe No. -J. iN.Z. Kitie Brigade Held Aniuulanee gave au entertainment characteristic of a caiuytlre scene, where men fruiu all positions of life come together in the one social level represented oy the King's khaki, and their accomplishments are cast into the .one common fund during their hours of relaxation for the eujoynient of all. In .ibeir hours off duly the soldiers have sifted their social talent out into bands, orchestras, soloists, etc., within the main setting o£ ithe male' choir, in which everyoue joins to give volnnie to the inspiring songs of ■the march. Thus the audience sa-w the men lounging round a typical Xew Zealand camp-fire, in a manuka and caWiage-tree clump, from which arose at intervals the marching choruses "iHere We Are Again,"

i "your King and tlountry Need You," £tc, I while in between the choruses arose calls (for favourite performers, who stepped into the flre-llt circle to respond, while beyond, the shadows a khaki-clad orchestra of '.fourteen instruments accompanied the per- ! formers, and anon broke into operatic and musical comedy selections that were home favourites in the days -before 'the war. It ,was a really ffne orchestra over which '.Lance-Corporal Bailey wielded the baton, iwhile the individual performers at the camp-fire concert —captain, non-coms., and privates—showed musical talent of a high standard. L,ance-Corporal Carr and Private Carr were responsible for some side-splitting fun in the manner of. drawingrooni entertainers Tvfth a fund of stories, puns, and jokes; Staff Sergeant■Mnjor Chapman fiept the fun going with some excellent comic songs in character, and Captain Grant sang the comic tragedy of the Spaniard that blighted his life, and collaborated in quaint ragtime with Sergt.Mnjor Chapman. Q.M'.-Sergt. ilcKinlay, delighted the audience with his llgn£ sweet baritone voice, lifted in favonrite ballads, while Private Walker's basso was heard in "Song o' 'Mine" and "•Four Jolly Sailormen." Private Dunn's piccolo select tions showed unusual talent on the part of the performer, while another instrumentalist of unusual ability was 'LanceCorporal Qr.irtin, Tvnose 'cello selections were immensely popular. Lanee-iCorporal Bailey (cornetist) and Private Lange (trombonist) also played in excellent style, while Sergt. Caddick caught the fancy of the audience as a monologulst with "Spotty" and "Gunga (Din." There was not an 'item on the programme that was not encored, and the men were given one of the finest receptions ever accorded entertainers in -the theatre. Amongst those present were the Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister, and the Hon. A. Myers.

The proceeds from the concert, which was held by permission of Lient.-Col. Nell Hardie, and in which the entertainers had the organising assistance of Mr Scott CoVvllle. are to go to the regimental fund for wounded soldiers.