CRICKET CONCERT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIV, Issue 10703, 12 July 1895, Page 5

CRICKET CONCERT.

The concert and entertainment held last evening in aid of the funds of the Hagley Park Cricket Ground must be considered a great success so far as the attendance went, as the theatre was crowded in every part, and the audience was enthusiastic to a degree, encoring nearly every item. At the close of Mr Millar’s first song, the occupants of the pit were so demonstrative , that he found it necessary to reprove them, and. threatened to bring the entertainment to a close if they did not applaud in a less offensive manner. Miss Marriott Watson, whose return'from England makes a welcome addition to our vocalists, gave a fair rendering of Tosti’s “ Beauty’s Eyes,” and, being encored, substituted “ The Plight of Ages.” Mrs E. Eobinson has been heard to greater advantage than in Juncker’s “I Was Dreaming,” which lacked expression. She was encored, however, and was more successful with a piquant little song “The Broken Pitcher.” Miss Davie gave Kelly’s “ Douglas Gordon,” and for an encore a pathetic ballad, to both of which shodid justice. Mr P. S. Ealfe made his first appearance in Christchurch in Pinsati’s “ Smile ’ and Bid Me Live." This gentleman possesses a flexible tenor voice of fair range, his upper notes being particularly good, but his singing was marred by a peculiar nasal intonation which, of course, affected his enunciation. Mr A. Millar was in good voice, and gave a splendid rendering of Daubert’s fine song, “The Spirit of th© Deep,” and for an encore the ever-weloomo “lam a Priar of Orders Grey.” Mr E. A. Ballantyno was very' successful in hia character songs j Mr, Eyan waa encored for hia recitation “Christman Day in the Workhouse,” and Mr W. M. Watson caused roara of laughter with a humorous recitation, “ How I Lost my Aim.” Mr A Bowman, who was accompanied on th® piano by Miss B. Vartha, played with good taste Musin’s intricate “ Mazurka de Concert” as a violin solo, the pizzicato passages with the left hand being beautifully manipulated. The performance earned him a Well-deserved encore, to which he responded by agnin playing the most difficult passages. Mr L. Watkins accompanied most of the vocal numbers. A pantomimic sketch, by Messrs P. C. Eaphael and E. A. Ballantyno waa extremely amusing; and the programme, which did not close until 11.30 p.m, ended With Sydney Grundy’s three-act comedy. The Snowball, the characters in which were well sustained by local amateurs. The action cf the piece, however, waa considerably marred by the frequency with which the prompter had to be appealed to. During the evening a capable orchestra under the leadership of Herr Biinz played several selections. -