"PATIENCE" AT KAIAPOI.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5681, 3 December 1883, Page 3

"PATIENCE" AT KAIAPOI.

The repetition of the aesthetic opera of " Patience" by a score of the lady and gentleman amateurs of this town, on Saturday evening, had been looked forward to with a great deal of pleasure, after the way in which its first public rehearsal was carried out. It is to be regretted, however, that at the time for the arrival of the audience a pitiless, pelting Shower came on, and lasted for nearly an hour. By deferring the performance from 7.30' till a little after 8 p.m., the seats in the Oddfellows' Hall were then nearly all occupied, and Mr E. Macfarlane'B baton was soon the signal for the opera. The characters were represented as at the previous rehearsal, and the success of the music and the acting showed that the members of the company were able to fully enter into the interpretation and delivery of the respective parts, especially so as some have not seen the opera played previously. Bunthorne, though suffering from a cold, was able to sustain his part in a most satisfactory way. Mr G. P. Milsom, who acts the part of Grosyenor, gave an excellent pourtrayal of the character. Of the ladies it is impossible to speak.too highly "in flattery, adulation, or abject deference." The singing of Patience in the love ballad was a splendid piece of -vocalization. Lady Jane's " Silvered is the raven hair" was seriously interrupted by an impromptu nursery solo, but bo soon as the offender was removed she graciously gave a. repeat amid loud applause. The dragoons' and the rapturous maidens' choruses went steadier, and the genuine applause and showers of bouquets, including many which were real daisies, which went forth at frequent intervals, must have rendered the performance a cheering one to the actors. The sestette at the end of the first act formed a complete triumph of instrumentalisation and singing, and of course was redemanded. The Kaiapoi string band lent its aid to the orchestra, and Mrs Macfarlane, with an admirable' amount of patience and musical good taste, presided at the piano. It is rumored as probable that the company will be induced by offers which have been made to rehearse the opera in Chiistchurch.