Concert at the Lyceum.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7846, 25 May 1904, Page 5

Concert at the Lyceum.

Owing to the inclement state of the weather there was a limited attendance at the concert at the lvS* Tlp trr laSt ni^ in aid of a sick and indigent trooper whom it is desired to send to the Hot Lakes district Ruin.. fell ceaselessly from half-past seven until afte / ri ,S^ o'clock, and though, doubS numerous tickets were sold and not produced at the doors, it i. a p"ty whl lr " WaS I ?° t with the very excellent proo-canime that had been compiled.P°rhe success attending the committee's effort, n this direct.on was evidenced by the valuable assistance lent by visiting performers, who included Miss Sommerville (Wellington™ Mi's Evan s (2U ast erton), and B Eobertson Buckingham, and P (Ahlhams, the former of Wellington but the two latter recent arrives in Palmerston. In all probabHitv a more enjoyable concert! des^Ve roys of empty seats, has not boen held m Palmerston. The vocal items were all of a character particularly acceptable to the. audience, and the instrumental selections were equally enjoyable. Miss SommerviHe I dainty ♦ \° °P? nin ° overture ™ dainty style, and was followed by Mr Vivian who sang " Asthore/' S' *<™,. lator Period the evening, Whisper and I shall hear." Both songs were treated Ly .Air eaT 11 f 5" Well: tn™n style" and each effort was loudly applauded. Miss D aisy Wood, a compa V ativsl SingCr °n tlle loc^ concert platform, created a .very favourable impression in her two,songs "5 you go" aml "May be." Though ristmctly nervous Miss Wood san* remarkably well, narrowly escaS an encore on each occasion. 3liss Oakley was heard to advantage in , a Eussmn W song, but her ° best effort was m the second part when she sang Ben Bolt " with a full and true conception of the world of pathos in the old composition. Miss Jwans, of Masterton, sang " A.t mv window," with charming effect, and it was somewhat disappointing she was down for one number only. Miss Evans has a sweet voice, well cultured, and she uses it with effect Her number was one*of many particularly happy vocal contributions Messrs Buckingham and P. Williams' numbers proved very acceptable to «m alwlience- ' The former sang I rue till death " in excellent style, and Mr Williams sang with equal success " A warrior bold." For an encore number he gave " The song that will live for ever." Both vocalists were roundly applauded. Mr H. Cooper, another new singer, contributed an old favourite, "On the road to,Mandalay," and he 'did full justice to Kipling's descriptive and characteristic composition, while Mr N. H Maclean sang "The deathless a£ my mm fine style and witn P"od etfect. The comic element was supplied by Messrs E. Eobertson 1/ \ Abraham, and Peat. Mr Eobertson was Undoubtedly, the success cf the evening. Commencing with " The miller and the maid " he " caught Tm " iat once, and Uafore the conrert concluded was recalled on seven separate,occasions. He Was 'perfectly inimitable, and drawing on an, apparently, inexhaustible stock of songs, playing his own accompaniments, he could', it seemed, have, himself, amused the audience all the evening. Mr L. A. Abranafn only appeared once, but on that occasion, with the assistance of Mr Upbcrtson, the audience was treated to a merry quarter of an hour. Mr Teat was very successful in a couple of Irish impersonations, Ms' make-up being as'goo/d as his vocalism. Mr Harvie was the only elocutionist present, and he recited " The little hero " to a keenly attentive audience. Mr W. J. Staine's played a euphonium solo, with! excellent effect.

Accompaniments were played by Misses Sommerville and Scanlan and Mr P. Tombs,- who also played the overture to the second tiart of the programme. Owing to illness, Colonel Gorton was unable, to preside as. chairman, and the breach was filled by Dr. Martin.