ST. PATRICK'S DAY CONCERT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14919, 18 March 1914, Page 10

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CONCERT.

A very large audience responded last night at the Theatre Royal to tho twofold appeal of the celebration of St. Patrick's Day and tho charitable object of assisting tho Nursing Sisters of Mercy. As fitting, many numbers of the programme wero Irish melodies, and, like tho Scotch, tho Irish cling affectionately to their old tunes and can never hear them often enough, Madame Audebert, Miss Elsio Brown, Messrs George March and R. D. Vincent, both of whom we have often appreciated, choosing the best-known among their gems. Madame Audebert's pleasing light soprano came to best display in "Mammy's Baby Boy/-. Miss Elsio Brown, a young lady, born

blind, possesses a mellow contralto voice with soma particularly good notes. Tho Very Rev. Dean Hills, who humorously introduced himself as one of the "has-beens," still manages, despite some dangerous climbs, to sing with fair effect, and his clear enunciation is particularly praiseworthy. The ChrLtchurch quartette of Messrs Cookson, Vincent, March and Millar contributed four quartet-tos. among which the best blending cf the voices was achicred in "Sleep, my Wild Rose," and the "Cornfield Melody' and "Fishing on Sunday" were given with the- usual successful humour. The ladies. Misses Harper. Cresswoll and Hennis, played prettily some instrumental trios. which made a ph3n.--.allt variation. The two string instruments wore played with rather too much reticence, but in the final, the "Barcarolle" from "The Tales of Hoffmann," they asserted themselves with more confidence. Mr Frank McDonald recited with his usual skill •'Shamus O'Brien." and instilled much humour into "Tho Old Story.'' in response to a recall. Miss Lilian Harper was kept on the stage all the evening with tew interruptions, and did excellent service as accompanist Tho Christchureh Banjo Band, under Mr L. W. Bloy, gave a couple of /rejections in tii'eir hwt style. Tho audience seemed to enjoy the whole concert thoroughly, and* treated all the performers with impartial favour.