MARIE NARELLE AT MILTON.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2068, 30 November 1906, Page 5

MARIE NARELLE AT MILTON.

Those who made a rudh for the 6.35 train for Milton after the Show on .Tuesday night,,and resisted the temp-, tation of the dance in St. Mark's Hall and the bazaar in the Oddlellows' Hall, were not disappointed. Marie Narelle is a great singer. She is Australian born, and the assumed name <" Narelle," is the Australian native name for " sweet : singing- bird." She is being toured through New Zealand i.by Fred Shipmau, the clever Canadian, who introduced Jessie MacLachlan to New Zealand last year. . It had been arranged that Mario was to have a short season at the Exhibition Concert Hall. But Mr Munro, with great courtesy and polished tact, announced a free orchestral concert in the main avenue on her first night. It the finish for Mr Shipman, who at once -cancelled Marie's dates at the Exhibition, arguing that the public did not "want to pay for a meal when given a free one. En route to the bath in Warner's Hotel the next morning Shipmah met Munro and informed him, "with tho flourish of a towel, that he was " a very fullish maan to act so." Mr Munro promised the manager that the scratching of Miss Narelle's concert Would cost him something—he would have to pay a forfeit of £6O. "■Wall, you'll get it," said Frederic, .with charming frankness, "if it's *ojning:to you !" This by the way, .The". Coronation Hall at Milton was full, but not packed. After two short Hems, the great singer made her appearand to a: storm of applause. In jnany respects, there is a close similarity, between her and Jessie MacLachlan Her entry to the footlights is quite different to Miss MacLacluan's, nor ii there quite the same personality about her. But in her manner of sinking, in her class of songs, in her breathing, and in her taking of the higher notes ode 'is reminded of the great Scottish singer. In appearance, too, there is somewhat of a_ resemblance, and in physique. Miss Narelle soon established herself a favourite. She sings all the old-land songs, and her forte is the Irish. Some of her songs were " The Exile's Return," " Angus McDonald." " T'is the Harp in the Air,'* " The Dear Little Shamrock," " A Memory of Ireland," " O'Donnell Aboo," " Killarney." Jhese are half-a-dozen of them. She sang ten altogether, for the audience insisted on encores, sometimes twice over, and Marie was very kind. Besides, she sang a duet with Mr Chester Fentress, and this was encored also. There were a goodly. number of people from the "•Green Isle " present, and they were in raptures over the old, old songs. 'But everyone was delighted, and the airclienco were slow to go, even after the singer had responded to a double encore, and bowed several acknowledgements. Miss Narelle is ably supported- by Miss' Constance Brandon-Usher, a fine pianist, and Mr Chester Fentress, a vocalist of some ability. He sang, amongst others, " Oft. in the Stilly Night," "Roseen Dhu," "I'm Sitting on the Stile Mary," " Love's Coronation." Milton audiences are slightly different to Balclutha one's. They burst forth into applause at the conclusion of each verse. In the case of Jessie MacLachlan, Balclutha satin breathless silence till the end of the song. .If Mr Shipman decides to include Balciutha in Miss Narelle's itinerary..at. a later date, which is possible, a decided treat is in 3tore for the people of this town.