ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3257, 25 September 1928, Page 3

ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

ELLESMEEE DRUIDS' LODGE

SCOTTISH SOCIETY ENTEETAIK

Not a seat was vacant in the Doyleston Hall last Friday evening, when members pf the Christehurch Scottish Society entertained an appreciative audience at the thirty-third anniversary concert of the Ellesmere Druids' Lodge. The attendance included representatives of most of the neighbouring friendly societies. Though the same society recently arranged concerts at Leeston and Lakeside, there were considerable changes in the personnel of the party, and much that was fresh was added, while the more popular items of the earlier programmes were retained. There was a distinctly Scottish flavour through the programme, and a feature was made of pipe music and national dancing. The opening selection was given by members of the Society's pipe band, and towards the latter part of it, four dancers in costume executed a reel. The other step dances included a Seann Triubhais by Misses K. Waltonj and B. Bruce, a sailor's hornpipe by Misses Nancy Chisholm and Betty Bruce, an Irish jig by Misses K. Walton and B. Dixon, and, as a finale, the Keel o' Tulloch.

The stately notes of the well-tried Scottish patriotic song, "Hail Caledonia," were sung with evident feeling by Mr ,Geo%e Campbell, who responded to a recall with "The Big Parade." Later he participated in a duet with a lady vocalist. Mr Syd. Comfort demonstrated his powers of mimicry by giving realistic imitations of the sounds of animals and inhabitants of the feathered world^ ending with a characterisation of a distracted father making vain endeavours to quell the cries of his infant offspring at some ungodly hour of the morning. In the second part, the same performer gave a ventriloquial turn. Mr J. Beasley, a comic singer of merit, contributed several songs in character, one of the best of which was the impersonation of the bent and bearded Scot who became jubilant over the fact that he was "Ninety-four today." After Mr Beasley's performances, there could scarcely Have remained any feelings of gloom with^ the audience, but if the shades of such did possibly exist they were dispelled by Mr J. Lockhart, the inimitable self-ac-companied singer, whose cheer-diffus-ing songs in quick time brought him spontaneous applause and persistent recalls. "Singing is the thing to make you cheery" was the philosophy conveyed by his first selection. This left his hearers in the right frame of mind to listen to his following pieces, which, though nonsensical, were high \ in entertainment value.

Songs by Miss Dixon were entitled "Ye Banks and Braes," "Here's to Love and Laughter" and "Comin' Tfyru' the Rye." Mr Hegan gave the humourous recitations, "The Chairman's Remarks" and the laconicallytitled "Nell," of the^many step-fath-ers. An elocutionist who appeared earlier recited a homily of the fiery brand at one time popular with Scottish preachers, and followed with the shorter monologue, "Cohen at the Telephone." Violin selections were played by Mr W. Gopthop.

Towards the conclusion the Scottish Society's jazz orchestra played several selections by way of samples of what was to come when the dance commenced. It undoubtedly whetted the musical appetites of the audience and created a desire to hear more. The customary "Auld Lang Syne" was sung by the performers and audience together, this concluding the concert programme. It is creditable to the organisers, Messrs Harold Johnston, secretary of the Scottish Society, and A. A. McLachlan, that they were able to gather together so brilliant an assemblage of entertainers. At the dance the floor was crowded, and the orchestra kept proceedings well enlivened for several hours, its music both meriting and receiving unstinted praise. " The f ast that the ScotI tish Society was arranging the entertainment was apparently a strong attraction, the attendance at both the concert and dance being decidedly larger than on some other recent anniversaries. The benevolent fund of the lodge should derive a good profit.