OPENING OF THE SESSION.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1920, Page 5

OPENING OF THE SESSION.

For many \\ eeks now the talk. in musical circles has been of Chautauqua, and the guarantors of the Blenheim session have not been idle in putting before the public the educational advantages of the system. It is not the province oi: this notice to .speak for or against the claim put forward by the directors of tliis movement, but simply to treat it from the viewpoint of a public entertainment, and to say whether the "goods" are up to the market value. This, from the point of view of the public generally—and they are the only people that should count—must frankly be answered in the affirmative. There is no doubt whatever about the quality of the entertainment provided—as a,n entertainment—and on its merits alone Chautauqua should be a paying proposition. Yesterday afternoon's and evening's session fully emphasisedthat. The company certainly had hard luck as regards the weather, but the attendance did not seem to be appreciably affected, though, of course, this may be accounted for by the iaet that a good number of season tickets had been sold. Given j good weather, and the inevitable advertisement that the excellence of the entertainment warrants, the ! remaining sessions should be well patronised. Yesterday's performances were held in the Town Hall, owing to the wet conditions overhead and underfoot. In the afternoon Miss M. Neumann, the directress, opened the proceedings by a brief address, outlining the origin and aims of the Ohautauqua movement. She emphasised the fact that it was not undertaken for the purposes of gain, but simply to bring to every town in the Dominion the best there was of the -world's lecturers and artists, at a cost within the reach of the poorest exchequer. The artists and lecturers when they had finished were paid, and they had nothing whatever to do with the finances or management of the Association, which ■ was purely a Dominion institution. The Lyric Quartette then entertained tlie audience for an hour, with concerted numbers and solos, afterwhich it was the children's turn, when Junior Town was organised and put in process of development. in the evening Miss Neumann again! gave an explanatory address and the Lyric Quartette entertained. This body comprises Messrs A. H. Ripley (first tenor), H. Richards (second tenor), Alan -A McElwam (baritone and entertainer), and.J. W. Ryan (bass). Mrs Ripley is acoompaniste. Mr Ripley has a light tenor voice of good even quality, and he sings always in tune and with plenty of expression. He sang Blum en thai's "Evening Song" with a good deal of feeling, and replied to an encore with "Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes." This latter was taken somewhat slower than we have been used to, but was fi good item notwithstanding. Mr Ryan has a heavy bass, and made a popular impression in his solo work. He sang "Corporal John Bartholomy" and a dialect song "Because I was shy." This was particularly good. Mr Ryan is also a most useful aid in the concerted work. Mr McElwain recited "The Village Fire Brigade" and sang "Jones of the Lancers," both humorous, and the audience evinced a desire to hear mere from him. Mr McElwain is an old resident of Blenheim. The best of the concerted items Tjffsro^he part song "Reveries" and ''Mammy's Little Coal-black Coon," a beautifully harmonised negro melody quite in the old Fisk style. The audience have to thank Mr McElwain for his announcements of the programme, a courtesy that was much appreciated. After an hour of music Miss Neumann briefly introduced the lecturer of the evening.