FAREWELL CONCERT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10546, 24 March 1920, Page 2

FAREWELL CONCERT

TO MR W. W. CRAWFORD. . A farewell concert wae tendered at the Town Hall last evening by the Wellington Orphans' Club and other local clu'bs to Mr W. W. Crawford, the well-known entertainer) who is taking up stage work professionally, and loaves for Australia as a member of the "Diggers' " Concert Party on Thursday. The hall was almost completely filled, and a high degree of enthusiasm prevailed throughout the proceedings. The first portion of the programme was contributed by a number of well-known local artists; the Caledonian Society's Pipe Band provided a Highland overture, and gave place in the second item to a. Highland reel by the Misses Campbell, Barnes, Adair und McKenzio. Encores to the vocal items were the rule of the evening, and each .contributor received a full meed of applause. Mr Verdi Mackenzie was recalled after singing the popular "Up From Somerset," and Mr Martin Duff was similarly called upon to supplement with an encore his tenor solo, "0 Solo Mio." Miss Cleon Feruandos, who offered Holmes's "Threniody," displayed a contralto voice of good quality and wide range. The descriptive bass solo, "Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind," was sung with much force by Mr Rupert Meates. The eagerly-anticipated solos of Mr Hamilton Hodges were received with great warmth by the audience. His most impressive number was the cra-dle song "Son of Mine," and in response to an enthusiastic encore he conceded, "Oh! Happy Dream." Mr Culforti Bell delivered with dramatic force "Marcellus'6. Address to the Mob'" from "Julius Caesar'' (Shakespeare), and reappeared to recite Kipling's "Boots,*' composed with the object of portraying the hardships endured by the British f soldiers in a march through the Soudan De6ert. Mr Albert Russell supplied ."Some Humour," whioh was much -appreciated, and Mr Norman Aitken delivered a couple of dramatic recitations. Mr W. W. Crawford received a very cordial reception on his appearance in the latter half of the programme with tho "Diggers'" Company, which assisted in the entertainment. His first item was a recital of "The Spirit of Christmas Past" and "The Spirit of Christmas Present," from Dickens's "Christmas Carol," but this by no means appeased the appetite of his audience, and he was recalled to show his versatility in a couple of humorous songs and a dancing item. Miss Helen Gard'ner made a .popular appeal in her musical sketches, "Pierrette" and "My Partners," each of which were encored, , .Other items were rendered by Messrs S. Laslett Exton, Stan. Lawson, Oliver Perkins, Tano Fama, G. I P. Banna, and other members of the "Diggers' '' party.