CHAPLAIN TAYLOR’S ENTERTAINMENT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1917, Page 2

CHAPLAIN TAYLOR’S ENTERTAINMENT.

Notwithstanding the stormy night, there, was a large attendance at tae above entertainment' which was held in the Opera House last night, a'-d which testified to the popularity of the rev. gentleman concerned, the goodwill of the community towards our soldier lads in camp and the excellent programme prepared by the nurses and commercial travellers for the entertainment alnd enjoyment of the audience. The Mayor of Greymouth (Mr. J. D. Lynch) presided. The proceedings were opened with the singing of the National Anthem and an opening selection, played by the Pollard Orchestra, assisted by Mr. E. J. Apted. The first part of the programme ■consisted of the following vocal and instrumental items, which were all splendid efforts and received well-merited encoresi: —Song, “Swallows,” Mrs Fletcher; song, “Where My Caravan has Rested,” Mr. F. Smith; instrumental selection, “Under the Pallus,” Misses V. Hannan, h Hanna,ny W. O'Neill, M. Phelan, D. Lalor (violins), Misse® V. Larcombe, M. Griffon, J. Kennedy (accompanists); song, “Dear Heart,” Mrs Morgan ; song, “The Roamer,” Mr. Short; instrumental selection, “Festival March.” Misses Y. Hannan, I, Hannam, W. O’Neill, M. Phelan, W. Lalor, M. Fletcher Nora, Hales, Rose Hales (violins). Misses L. Higgins and M. Egan (accompanists); song, “Serenade,” Mrs; McQueen, with violin obligato by Mr. E. Apted: mandolin duet, Misses Hales,

The second part consisted of several items by the following commercial travellers ; Bush, Short, Aldridge, Shirley, and .Pimm, They were in excellent voice and sang a couple of choruses in character, besides some very line solos, monologues and recitations.

The third part consisted of a spark

ling little comedy entitled, “Acid Drops.” Dramatis personae were as follows: Mrs Price, sharp-featured and bad tempered old woman, Docy Dooley; Mrs Taylor, round-faced, amiable woman, Bridget Mcßride; Alice a young woman who has fits, Molly Moore ; Mrs Gilbert, a very old woman with beautiful white hair, Annie. Makomatch ; Mrs Dent, woman with her apron over her head. Violet Seymour: Flora. Cavan., the visitor, Eva. Evans; the Kev, Noel Cuthbert•:on, the clergyman, Algernon Jones.

Scene: A Ward in a Workhouse. This comedy provoked a considerable amount of mirth from the audience. The stage was dressed as a hospital ward, the nurses and visitors were in costume, and the patients some in bed and some seated. The acting in ibis comedy was of a very realistic order, the nurses, of course, being quite at home in the ward. The patients were mostly old persons, who displayed the usual weaknesses and foibles of old age, together with a considerable admixture of sound common sense. The lady visitor and the young curate have the stormy course of true love smoothed for them by an aged patient, -whose good advice came to them opportunely, and the comedy ends in the usual happy manner. Where all the actors did so well it would be invidious to particularise. The nurse.s 1 were greatly indebted to Mr. 11. Doogan al.id to Mr. Tom Pollard for their valuable advice and as-

(mice iii preparing the comedy. The concluding part was the nurses’ fancy poster march, in which 'some 2-1 uui':je s representing different local firing took part. Order of posters: Tymoiijj and Co., cotton goods; Kettle Bros., bottled goods; Forsyth and McKay dairy implements; Wickes Ltd., Sun Fire Insurance; Gilbert 8r05..,

jewellery; Aitkeu and Peters, spring goods; Hannah’s, boots and slices;

“Evening Star,” evening paper; Mawhern. Meat Co., butcher's small goods ; C. Smith, flannel and nun's veiling; Fogartv and Williams!, WMsev underwear: *ll. Williams',-Glaxo; * D. McLean, brass fittings; Felix' Campbell, grain; McKay and So'n, new color s'bcnie; “Argus,” morning paper; U.S.S. Co., red funnel; S.S. Packing Co., goods, for export; Mansou and Co., silk and laces; W. Boucher, Dutch cleanser; F. Parkinson, lime syrup; Barker's wedding cakes ; Kilgour’s. toys: Mark Sprot, fertilisers, 'lliis* was one of the most delightful spectacular displays ever witnessed on a Greymouth stage. Captain Coldo ugh was Responsible for drilling the nurses and is to be complimented for the excellent results of his instruction. The' different,marching evolutions were executed with the greatest ■precision, and presented a charming picture when lighted up by colored illuminations provided and worked by Mr. T. Pollard. Archdeacon York, on behalf of tho soldiers and chaplain, thanked the audience for their attendance and support, Mr. Pollard for the use of the hall,' and Mr. G. Moss for the free us 3of the piano, the matrons and nurses of the hospitals, the commercial travellers and the performers, both vocal and instrumental, who had taken part. The National Anthem concluded a. most enjoyable entertain moot. The result of the poster competition, which realised X2O. was as fol lows : C. Smith .(represented by Miss Kittoj 1 Mark Sprot and Co. (Miss Bishop) 2 Kettle Bros. (Miss Day) 3 Hannah and Co. (Miss Braidwood) -I Votes of thanks are also due to the Orchestra and the accompanists, Miss Hopkins, Mrs Hales, Messrs Bush and Hestieaux-