THE ARION CLUB AT HOME.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7722, 17 November 1886, Page 3

THE ARION CLUB AT HOME.

The members of the Arion Clnb, who have during the winter months made a name for themselves as entertainers, gave an " At Home " in the Choral Hall, Moray place, last evening. The hall, which was aesthetically decorated for the occasion by several prominent members of the club with tapestry, fans, and other articles of Japanese design, presented a really pretty appearance, especially when the audience, attired almost without exception in evening dress, assembled and clustered in small groups around the little flower-decorated tables which had been arranged in very convenient manner. The entertainment commenced with a piano duet, played in masterly style by Herr Benno Scherek and Madame Scherek, after which four part-songs were given by a choir chosen from tho members of the club. These sorig3 were —" The celebration of spring" (Mendelssohn), "Norwegian Bridal Song" (Kierulf), "Consolation" (Smart), and "Ye woods and trees" (Lahee). A cavatina, " Un balo in maschera," was then played by Mr Coombs on the violin, and vocal solos were afterwards given by Mrs H. Rose and Miss Marshall, the former having to respond to an encore. All of these items proved very enjoyable, as did also tho selection from Hofmann's cantata," The story of Melusina," and the ladies' part-songs "Spring in tho land" (Raff), and " Gipsy life " (Schumann). It was, however, to the latter part of the programme that the audience looked forward with the greatest interest. This comprised a series of tableaux vivauts, with music, illustrative of the fairy story of " Cinderella,'1 and the " Nursery rhymes quadrilles, 'danced in character. Thetableauxproved to be really effective, the dresses being capital, and the posturing, though no very great amount of rehearsal had been done, excellent. The quick succession with which one tableau followed another was somewhat remarkable, tUe whole 1G being shown in about 10 minutes. The actors were:—Miss J. Cargill, as Cinderella;" Miss ltoss and Miss Reynolds (the two sisters); Musdames Lindo Ferguson, H. Mackenzie, and C. C. Kettle (ladies iv waiting); Mr Bardley C. Rsynolds (the Prince); and Messrs Ord, Mackenzie, F. W. Pttre, and W. Mackerrow (courtiers). The characters in the nuisery rhymes ; were taken as follows: —" Jack," Mr Green* wood; '"Jill," Miss H. Gilkispnj "Humpty i Dum'pty," Mr C. Biitterworth; " Curly Lockii," i Miss Mab'.e Maitland; " Georgie Porgie," Mr Cecil Brannigan; "Bo Peep," Miss Webster; ■ " Little man with the gun," Mr Clark; " Ride i a cock horse," Miss Asbproft; " Little Boy Blue," Mr C. Rattray; v Marjory Daw," Miss Backhouse) " Tweedledum," Mr Ord Mackenzie;" Pussy Cat,"Miss V. Maitlaud;" King Cole," Mr Haclurrow; " Mary Quite Contrary," Misß Greenwood; "Tweedle'dee," Mr Wright; "My

Pretty Maid,'' Mfcs B, Ashnroft. This was certainly tho moat entertaining part of the programme. Those who took part in tho dances without exception drocsed their parts remarkably well, and the gyrations "bf tho gigantic 1 Huinpty Dumpty, as well us tho vagaries of the (ibuse Qcorgio l'orgie and two or three others were particularly amusing. It should bo mentioned that a great deal of tho credit for tho success of this part of the performance is due to Mrs Lindo Ferguson and Mrs H. Mackenzie, who undertook tho supcrintendenne at somewhat short notice. Mr jamus Cargill act'd an stage manager. Altogether tho entertainment was a great success, and it mny be safely predicted that tho next Arion " At Home " will bo awaited with increased interest.