THEATRE ROYAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVIII, Issue 13001, 17 December 1902, Page 5

THEATRE ROYAL.

MR CHARLES CARTER'S CONCERT. The benefit concert t-ende.red to Mr Charles Carter last night could not haro' been a financial success, the attendance being only poor, and this, of course, milit tilted also against the performance! from the artistic point of view. Even the best of singers must be a trifle depressed in the presence of a “ beggarly array of empty, benches." The programme was, nevertheless, faithfully gone through, and there was more than a'hint displayed of the brightness and generous musical excellences which would have been in evidence had there been reason to stir the performance to a legitimate pitch of enthusiasm. As it was,, common candour compels the admission that the concert was a little cold and uninspiring. Nor was this helped by the uiisecmlv behaviour of a section of the pit, who appeared to regard the occasion as one for the exhibition of a disgraceful amount of vocal ‘-horse-play.” The individual numbers when isolated, however, were enjoyable enough. Mr Carter himself ias improved since last he visited Christchurch, Mid his voice scorns to have gamed both in quality and volume. His ° P ‘‘My Queen” was particularly eftective,, and'his encore song, “Take a fair - or. Sparkling Eyes,” was also a good number.His other songs were “I’ll Sing Thee Songs of Araby” and “Let Me Like a S ° ldl Fall.” Miss Maggie Wells endoised t*he favourable impression she has already creatcd as a contralto singer, and, she was deservedly encored for both her numbers. Miss Daisy ~Samuels sang Hope Temple s “Thoughts and Tears” prettily, and Mis Prenderville Wilson was doubly encored for two graceful soprano items. Of Mr A. Millar and Mr B. S. Collier it is unnecessary to speak, for both have long since sewed their successes on the local concert platform, and Mr L. Bonnmgton has done likewise with his ’cello. Mr-T. Dykes was responsible for two excellent _ humorous items, which came like oases m a deseiv of sentiment. Miss Ruby Edgar, who secures an excellent tone, played an enjoyable violin solo, and the concert generally was judiciously varied. Tho accompaniments wore unimpeachably played by Mis si Ritchie and Mr A. J. W. Bunz. After singing his last item, Mr Carter thanked, the audience for their patronage in a few appreciative words, and expressed a hops that he might justify the confidence of hrt friends by adding one more to the list ot colonial successes at Home.