GREENWOOD FAMILY.

Evening Star, Issue 7404, 27 December 1887, Page 2

GREENWOOD FAMILY.

Mrs Greenwood and her family, who are making a tour of the Colony with their popuar entertainments, gave their opening poifornianoe in Dunedin at the Lyceum l ist night. The attendance was not so largo as uvght have been expected; but wo imagine that the entortab msnt wil be hotter palro Istd now tb t the ceremony <f introduction is over, for there is no doubt that the children are very ‘ lever, and wr.cn reason ble allowance is made for their iaek rf tlu*. measure of exp tieitcj which c n orgy be acquired with age it mii-.t be coneed,, ,j th t th. y provide as good a dtawing-room cn'eruinrnent as one could wish to tnj jy. Mrs Green wo.id, who took pint in two , tan 'forte duets and abo contribut.d an rccompaniment to many ef the other selecinns, is doubtless a skilltt: piani-t, and generally played with ft;, lint- e.ni sound judgrmnt. Mister Greenwood recited * The Young Orator' in an a ! y nr c distrained style, and evidently has t een schu.ied not merely to lea- u the words but to comprehend the sense of the authois he s- leois from Miss Asatha contributed the weli-known fl iwcr song from ‘ Faust’ in a plea-ing manner, and later on sang the waltz song from ‘The Pirates' in grand style, besides taking put in a couple cf trios. Mbs Marlbei’s ‘Highland Guns’ oompilsed several Scottish airs woven into a pianoforte solo, and she acquitted herself with credit, gaining applause from the critics present for the clearm ss with which the melodies were brought out from the msxa of varieties with which they are surrounded. We recognise lo Miss Mstlhsl a pianist of ooosldcra'.le promt- e, This young lady ’« most pronounced success, however, was In t-ejevel song from ' Fault, 1 which suited her mu-loal soprano voice, and was warrny applauded. Her other vocal contribution Was 1 The Death of Nelson'—a novelty Indeed when sung by alsdy. Miss Nora’s pianoforte solo 'Ustsa’s In the cold, cold ground,'was given very tastefully, and, as with the elder sister, the variations were deflca'eiy interpreted. Uisa Ruby gave a comic song, * Over went the captain,' with such archness that the ftUtilerOd wore completely captivated, the iltili* tinker accompanying the song wl hj appropriate gesticulations, and evidently enjoying ft herself One of the strongest points with the children Is their reotilng. We have mentioned the little boy’s Contribution, and are pleased to be able to say that Miss Ruby and Mies Aeatha deserve also to be spoken of with approbation. Miss Ruby Is a pci (ect wonder, having not only a phenomenal metnrry, but acting two or more parts with a degree of cleverness seldom seen In so young a ohiltl. Mies Agatha's t iece was 'Edinburgh after Flodden"—an old favor! e selection with schorl chl'dren, but rcOited on this occasion with more than usual judgment and pa'tvs Tne trio 'Three Little Scalds, 1 from ‘TheMikado,’ was sung by the Misses Agatha, Ruby, and Nora, at d so hit the taste of the audience that an enooi e was insisted on. Mies Agatha and Miss Maribel were set down for violin solos, the pieces chosen being ‘ The Carniv.il tie Venire ’ and tie Bcrlul's ‘ Seventh Air.’ It is a rare thing tn find ladiis attempting difficult violin roles in public, and almost nnheatd-rf for mere children to c«>ay such a tack as that undertaken by these young people. Special indulgence may- therefore be fairly claimed ; and when this is conceded we may exp ess the opinion that both solos were creditably played. The performers have much to Karn in respect to the violin, but they are in a f .ir way to succeed, and it will ho fringe indeed if they do not in the future develop into players of repute. The stage is very tastefully decorated, and the while entertaienymt thoroughly well prepared. The second performance will be given this ovoi i g.