AN EVENING WITH SHAKESPEARE AND TENNYSON.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1887, 10 September 1885, Page 2

AN EVENING WITH SHAKESPEARE AND TENNYSON.

Ow Tuesday evening last an entertainment in connection with the "Wesleyan Church took place iv the Temperance Hall, before a faisdy large and appreciative audience. Two of our best authors had been selected, from whose works, the various items in the programme were carefully culled. The following ladies and gentlemen took part in the entertainment, and by their efforts, a most enjoyable •evening was spent: — Mesdanjes Marley, Buddie, Daniel, Misses Marley, Buckland, IHeetvrood, Luudon, Tuuks, Vogan, and Messrs Vogan, Snodgrasa, Bsdaile, Brown, Paget, E. Clarke, Macaulay and Buddie. The first part of the programme commenced with a pianoforte duet, being .an overture from Donizette, "L'Elisire d'Amore" by Mrs and Miss Marley, which was carof ully and. artisticall} r rendered, and- proved a treat to lovers of good music. Mr Vogan followed with the well-known song "Come into the garden, Maud." Thfs was sung with much fesling, though perhaps at times rather strong. The next item was a recitation by Mrs Buddie, "Bnoch Arden's farewell." Mrs Buddie was very happy in her selection, and praise is due her for the really good rendering of this part. Mrs Daniel was to have followed with "Should h» upbraid," but, haying a slight cold, she did not venture to sing so difficuit a piece. Miss Marley, however, took her place, and sang very sweetly. Considering the short notice this ledy had, great credit j is due her. J£iss Buckland, for so young » player, i« to be complimented on her performance, %ni her violin solo wa# one of the be»t features of. the entertainment. "Mesgenger Swallow" by Mr Snodgraas, \yas perhaps a little too forcibly rendored, but was otherwise a very good performance, and was received with much favour. In the duet "I know a bank," by Mrs Daniel and Wi»a Marley, the voices blended very nicely together. "Othello's address to the Senate" hy Mr Esdaile, showed an intelligent and careful prepai'ation of that exquisite piece. Miss Pleetwood in "Eing out wild bells" excelled herself, and a demaud was made for au encore, which, but for the length of the programme, would, doubtless hare been given. This concluded part I. After a short interval, the second part was opened by Mrs and Miss Marley with a pianoforte duet, "A midsummer night's dream," in which these ladies, if possible, exceeded their former efforts. If anything, however, this piece wag rather long. Ml* J. Brown was fairly successful in "Menenius to the Tribunes." Mr Paget is always fortunate in his choice, and on this occasion "The Charge o£ the Light Brigade," as aung by him evoked the well-merited plaudits of the audience. Miss Lundon gave a very good account of herself in "Break break, break," though she haabeen heard to greater advantage. "Lea Cloches de Cornville" by .Master E.

Clarke: was very good, considering the fact that his violin was slightly oftt of tune, and in consequence, the pierce, did not, receive the same amount jof justice it would otherwise hasre don©. Mr Clarke v a young player" of much promise, and doubtless good things may be expected of him. Mrs Daniel gave the brook in fairly good style, but not quite up to her usual mark. "The Charge of Balaclava" by Mr Macauley. This piece wan rather much for this gentleman, but was delivered with good effect. . Mr Buddie in "Home they brought her wai'rior dead," was a little strained, but sang with much feeling, and took very well. The duet "As it fell on a day," by Mrs Daniel and Miss Mar ley was vory tastefully rendered. The National Anthem brought the evening's entertainment to a close. Some six weeks back -the same or almost the same performers gave au entertainment on somewhat similar lines entitled an "Evening with Longfellow," and although recognising how injudicious are comparisons at times, still wo cannot say the progress made since the last musical evening was such as we would have expected, — possibly the late windy "cold-inspir-ing" weather had something to do with it. Praise, however, is due to those ladies and gentlemen who undertook the trouble of the arrangements, and the carrying out of the programtnr. We would, however, suggest that entertainments of this kind be begun earlier in oorder that they, might be brought to a close between ten and half-past ; after this hour people begin to weary of the programme, no matter how attractive, and the good impression which the earlier portion may have made, is often marred by the length of time they are obliged to wait for its close.