SCOTLAND IN SONG AND STORY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8100, 1 October 1904, Page 2

SCOTLAND IN SONG AND STORY.

The Ballarat Star says, in criticising the performance given' by Miss Flora Donaldson and Mr Gavin Spence, "Twa. hours at Homa," is what many sons and daughters of Scotland have many times confessed that they would give years of their life to have over again, and here it is brought to their own doors, or, as our visitors would say, to their "am hairths." Scotland before the days of the English invasion, Scotland in the days of the Jacobites and Honnie Prince Charlie, and Scotland and Bobbie Burns all had their turn, and for two hours the land of "brown heath and shaggy moor" lived again in the hearts of her sons in Ballarat. From the outset, n»e programme was received with an enthusiasm that found its outlet in a vociferous demand for encores. Of Miss Flora Donaldson, it may be said that she captivated the audience at once. She has a soprano voice of very sweet quality, great range, and much flexibility, and her enunciation is remarkably clear. Mr Gavin Spence is possessed of a sympathetic tenor voic3. and interpreted the songs of the "Auld Hame" with an expression that went right home to the hearts of his auditors, and whether it was in the stirring Jacobite songs, "A Hundred Pipers," or in Burns' lovely ballad "Afton Water," or in the song of Scotland. "Annie Laurie." he appealed to the hearts of his compatriots, and stirred them as few havt stirred them for many years. These talented artists can only, owing to prior engagements, appear in Hawera for one night, Friday next, and as they are certain to have a crowded house early booking is advisable. The box plan is now open at Messrs Cole and Donnelly's