CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' SCHOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17191, 19 December 1917, Page 3

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' SCHOOL.

ENTERTAINMENT BY PUPILS,

As far as lies within the power _of juveniles to entertain, the boys attending the Christian Brothers' School certainly occupy a place in the front rank. That has been demonstrated on more than one occasion, and onß more evidence of it was given on Monday evening in His Majesty's Theatre before an audience that went very far towards filling the building. So far as the downstair portion of the theatre was concerned not another person could.have been accommodated. That the audience enjoyed tho performance was made quite plain, and the lads evidently enjoyed it themselves; so that performers and patrons were alike satisfied. The lads did wonderfully well whether in music, elocution, or some branches of athletics. There was_ a choir comprising a good many boys' voices, supported by some very young men to give body of tone, that sang very wel! indeed. Sullivan's "The Long Day Closes" and Allitsen's "There's a Land" wer 1 especially well rendered. Adam's " Comrades in Arms," while ( quite creditably given, could not possibly be expected to be entirely successful. Boys' voices could not render it effectively. Tho full choir did very good and praiseworthy work during the evening,, and the boys, unsupported, gave an excellent account of themselves in several two-part-songs, which they sang very correctly. There were several recitations included in the programme, a most notable featare of which was the way the boys spoke up. There was no chance of anyone in the audience missing a word. F. Foster recited "The New Zealand Soldiers' Mail," M. Wakelin "A Boy's Troubles," and W, Stevenson "The Man" With- One Hair." In an athletic direction there were exercises with tho rings, .the wands, and the Indian clubs, all of whicn wer« very neatly and cleanly gone through. An efficient orchestra ushered in each part of the programme, its playing, under the direction of Mr G. B. Laidlaw, being quite enjoyable. The> feature during'the lattef part of tho evening was the performance by the boys of tbo operetta " Disaster Averted," in which Masters F. Bell.. I. Hjorring, A. Todd, G. Donnelly, and F. Cotter took part. It illustrated the .experiences of a valet who,' under pressure of circumstances, takes upon himself to act as a school examiner, with very amusing. results. The choir was conducted by Mr J. Campbell Gillies, and those officiating at tho'piano wore Mips C. Hughes, Master C. Harkin, and Mr Hartley. Tho performance, closed witn the singing of the National Anthem.