BENEFIT CONCERT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 722, 2 June 1923, Page 7

BENEFIT CONCERT.

LARGE AUDIENCE AT OPERA HOUSE, i % aus P icos of the Orient Lodge, 1.0.0. h., No. 42, a benefit concert, in aid of a widow and family, was held at tlio Opeia House last night, when a programme of exceptional merit was staged by local and visiting artists. _ The building was filled witn an enthusiastic audience which demonstrated its appreciation of the items with a generous measure of applause. A feature of the entertainment was the song scenas and ballets which were performed by the pupils of Miss Cecily Tabor, the staging and dressing for these items were carried out on a lavish scale, the scenic effect producing a kaleidoscope of colour most _ pleasing to behold. the vocalists were cordially received as was (he Municipal Band which rendered a novel descriptive piece entitled “On the Tiles," this effort being greeted with warm applause. Thu playing of an augmented orchestra, under Mr W. Walpole, was also much appreciated. Ihe stage management was ably carried out by Mr Gordon \\ lakes, to whom, together with the other lodge members who assisted, credit is due lor the efficient manner in which the arrangements were executed.

The following contributed to the programme:—The Municipal Bund (conductor, Mr Charles Pike) “Un the Tiles”; Jean Mitchell, song “1 Love tlio Night Time”; Mr Alf BhuidforJ, songs “Mountain Lovers,” “Mary O’Neill,” “In the House at the end of tho Lane,” and encore; Madame Elsie Garden, L.R.A.M., songs “Black Rose,” “Glory of tho Sea,” “Softly Awakes My Heart” and “Thoughts Have Wings”; Mrs Arty Smith “When We’re Together,” “Dear Heart” and two encore numbers; “Cat and Canary,” dance duo, Betty Amos and Daisy Anderson; Mr Percy Everett (Wanganui), humorist; songs and patter; Vivienne Healey, impersonations; Hazel Collinson and Denis O’Brien, song secna “Tulip Time” supported by a full corps-de-ballet; Ruth Skorman, song “Whoso Baby Are You?” supported by ballot and chorus; Barbara Hancock and Mona Mortensen, descriptive dance scena and monologue, “1830-1950”: Mr Anderson (’cello soloist, Dannevirke); Air C. Liddingron (piano soldist, Dannevirke); Air J. W. Wood (Dannevirke) songs “Mother o’ Aline” and “Aeushla" ; Messrs Everett and Wood, comedy duel “Ghost of the A’ioliii,” Miss Eileen Woodfield and Messrs Blandford and Liddington supplied the accompaniments, and Masters Ralph Holmes and Weldon Whelan acted as callboys.

Encores were frequently demanded of tho artistes who responded with extras.

The lodge desires to acknowledge with thanks the following donations; —Commercial travellers, £7; “Anonymous” (the result of Sir Harry Lauder’s appeal at Opera House), £5; P. Cunningham, 10s; 11. Divehall, 10s; “Anonymous,” 10s. Tho lodge also wishes to thank all who took part in the concert and assisted with (fie arrangements; also the pub'ic for tno generous response to the appeal.