"A JAPANESE GIRL"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 65, 10 December 1917, Page 3

"A JAPANESE GIRL"

OPERETTA FOR THE SAILORS' FUND. On Saturday' evening an entertainment of more than ordinary merit was given in St. Andrew's Hall, The Terrace, in aid of King George's War Fund for Sailors. Tho hall was filled with an audience that was thoroughly appreciative of the excellent programme placed before them, which began with a Christmas Toy Symphony by an orchestra of players with toy instruments. Well-known themes such as "Cathedral Chimes at Christmas Eve," "Adeste Fideles," "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," "Bells of Christmas," "Sleighbell.Polka" wcto introduced, and the ladies of the orchestra' manipulated their toys with novel and at the samo time clevor results, for which a repetition was asked. Mr. J. E. F. Perry contributed some amusing andexcellently rcdidcred recitations,, and Miss Gibb contributed pianoforte items. The operetta, which is likely in the near distance to bo presented before a larger public, was suggested by a picturesque custom which prevailed in Japan, and which like many other Japanese customs was graceful and poetic in conception. When a near relativo of a man or woman had occasion to be absent from home for somo considerable time he loft behind as his substitute a plant or a singing bird. Tho greatest caro was spent upon this object, as it was considered to bo exceedingly ill-omned should any harm befall the object so left before the return of the man or woman. O-Hanu-San, a young Japanese beauty, had been left in this way by her father, and in his • absence the greatest care and tenderness was lavished upon the bird that was his substitute. O-Hanu-Sau was about to celebrate her coming-of-age ceremony, which afforded opportunity for somo quaint and pretty customs witnessed by two English girls who were touring Japan with their governess, aud wlio happened to stray into the garden where the Japanese girl was entertaining ht!r friends; also for some pretty trickery on the part of thu Japauesu girls towards the governess, whom they fomid asleep in front of her easel.

During the course of the performance some excellent solo and chorus singing was heard, the principals being Mrs. Douglas (O-Hanu-San), who acted and sang with much charni, Mrs. ■Wycherley and Mrs. Rennie (as 0-Kito-San and O-Kayo-San, her cousins), Miss Thomson (Chaya,. a teaserver), Miss Gold and Miss Smith, 'the two' English girls, and Mrs. Claughton, the English governess. Some good characterisation was given, especially by Miss Thomson and Mrs. Claughton. A chorus of Japanese girls added pieturesqueness to tho scenes, as well as good chorus work, notably in the Japanese anthem, and Mise Nesta Carwcll Cooke as a dainty little Japanese girl gavo some quaint national dances. Mr. H. S. Claughton was the musical director of a very meritorious performance, Mr. Anderson tlie organist, Miss Gibb tho pianist, and Miss Newton the stage directress;