ENTERTAINMENT AT THE WHAU ASYLUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4296, 20 August 1875, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE WHAU ASYLUM.

Another of those extremely pleasant monthly re-unions took place in the large hall of the Whau Asylum last evening. A large num. ber of invitations were issued; and judginby the assembly at half-past seven they must have been pretty generally accepted. The entertainment comprised vocal and instrumental selections and the performance of a petite comedy from the pen of the resident surgeon, Dr. Aitkin. The title of the comedy (the characters of which were all undertaken by the attendants of the institution) was "Three Strings to her Bow." The plot is simple and the play, which is divided into five acts, is very brief, lasting not more than an hour and a-half. A young lady (the" daughter of a naval officer) has three lovers or, in the conventional slang of the day' '' three strings to her bow." One of these is a lieutenant in the navy ; the second a rich country gentleman, and the third a crusty old miser. In the conventional manner of the flirt, she playa with the hearts of the three, but is, by a manoeuvring and " hardup" father, induced to angle principally for the miser. During the struggle with him, however, for a marriage settlement of £300 a-year and £1000 down, the two other lovers send, by their respective servants—the one a nigger and the other an Irishman, —love missives, the delivery of which the miser detects, and suspecting the intentions of " Clara" not to be the most disinterested in the world, he brings matters to a crisis by refusing to consent to the terms named, and the result is an estrangement all round, which necessitates the departure of Clara and her papa for "fresh woods and pastures new." With a little more rehearsal the play would have run smoother, but every allowance must be made at all times for the efforts of amateurs. Clara was splendidly played by one young lady, who also sang very nicely, " I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls"; and Martha and another character received full justice at the hands of two other ladies. Larry, the Irish messenger, was capitally played, as was also Commodore Cntlas3 and the miser. The other characters had little opportunity for the display of their powers. The curtain fell amid applause which must have been very gratifying to the author. A recitation "The Labourer," was given with much elocutionary effect; and a dnet, by another lady and gentleman, was capitally rendered. A tin whistle solo was followed by a comic song, " Dobbs in Paris," which was very warmly applauded, as it deserved to be. The forms were then cleared away, and after partaking of light refreshments, the ladies and gentlemen returned to the room to enjoy the pleasures of the dance. A number of the inmates were present during the evening, and appeared pleased with tie entertainment. Dr. Aitken wa3 most attentive to the comfort of the visitors, and had a kindly eye to his patients. He was also ably seconded in hi 3 efforts by the various officers of the institution. The evening was a most enjoyable one. The regret is that such entertainments cannot oftener be held.