PERSONAL AND SOCIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22328, 31 July 1934, Page 15

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL

A concert arranged by Mrs H. C. Campboll and the Society of Woman Musicians wag given in the Y.W.C.A. Hall last night. The hall was tastefully decorated with bronze chrysanthemums and greenery. A cheery fire burned in the grate, adding warmth'and colour to the evening's enjoyment. To music-lovers the evening's programme was a feast and a delight. The String Orchestra, under the couductorship of Miss Mary Martin, played "Liebestraum," by Von Blon, and "Pi»zacato," by O'Donnel. A pianoforte solo, "Rhapsody" (by Dohnanyi), was played bv Miss Winifred Gardner, and a violin solo, " Slavonic Dance," by Dvorak-Kries-ler, was played by Miss Ethel Wallace. A musical monologue, "In the Crowd," by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, was ' given by Mr s Wakefield Holmes. and in an encore Mrs Holmes gave a humorous piece, , " Obsessed." A vocal solo, "The Song of Venice," by Bemberg. was sung by Miss. Margaret Green, Miss Mary Fraser gave a pianoforte solo, " Jardius Sans La Pluie," by Debussy, Mrs D. G. Hartley sang " Dawn Gentle Flower," by Sterndale Bemiet, and in an encore she sang "Robin Adair." Miss Dorothy Sligo sang the "Waltz Song" from "Tom Jones," by German, and a humorous encore number, "The New Umbrella," was also given. A 'cello solo was played by Mis s Elvira Wycherley, "Siciliaue," by Faure, the encore number given being "Air." A song. "Ann's Cradle Song," by Armstrong Gibbs, was sung by Miss Ruth Sell, and Miss Ruth Moore played a pianoforte s olo. " Study iti Db," by Liszt.. A recitation," The Last Will of Charles Lonsdale," was given "by Mrs H. 0. M'Farlane, and "The. Postage Stamp " was submitted as an. encore. Mesdames Hartley and Roy gavca vocal duet. "Nocturne," by Penza, and an instrumental trio, " Adagio and Finale," by Haydn. wa a given by Misses Mary Martin. Ruth Burn, and Elsie Rattigan. Mrs Mackie Begg. president of the Y.W.C.A., expressed thanks to Mrs Campbell and those Performers who had so graciously given of their talent and time to provide the beautiful concert the audience had enjoyed. The concert wa fl given in Y..W.O.A. funds. . * * '-'

Close on 300 people.,assembled in the Early Settlers' Hall last Tuesday evening when tlie annual dance of the Hiber-nian-Australasian Catholic Benefit Society was held. The pretty frocks of the ladies and the regalia of the members of different friendly societies presented a gay scene. , Dancing to the music provided by an orchestra, the revellers enjoyed themselves until 1 a.m., when the function was-concluded with "AuldLang Syne, Besides members of other Orders there were present several representatives of the Milton, Port Chalmers, and Mosgiel branches of the H.A.C.8.5., also the executive members of the Qtago Provincial Council of the society. Among those present were:—Misses R. Quinn, wearing black sand crepe with white yoke; Jv, M'llroy, pale blue georgette; V. Robinson, green silk velvet with silver lam? sleeves; B. Macartney, red silk erepe lamane trimming; E. O'Dowd, pale pink windswept satin; Mrs Boyle, black and white georgette; Mrs Brady, black satin; Mrs Marlow, jun., blue satin and black cape; Mrs W. Simpson,; Mrs W. E. Simpson; Mrs R. Baughen, powder blue satin; Mrs G. Burgess, black velvet; Mrs T. >oung, white face and georgette; Mrs Burden, shell pink satin; also Misses H. M Quillan, russet satin; S. M'Quillan, ; royal blue crepe de chine; Casey, black satm; Iv. O'Sullivan, pink taffeta; B. Ross* henna crepe satin; M. Thompson, flame crepe, satin; Catherine Cox, white windswept satin; P. Moore, black satin; K. Finch, white windswept satin; C. Bourke, turquoise blue windswept satin; 0., Bourke, pale green windswept satin; P. Holt, pale green georgette; M. Spillane, white satin beaute; C. M. Casey, orange crepe; N. Duffy, orange crepe, black trimmings; D. Cranley, apple green satin beaute; P. Cranley, flame chenille georgette; 1. Tvler, black . satin, silver lame; A. M'Alevey, white sand crepe; R. .Bell, white windswept satin; I. Richmond, ivory pineheck sheer; Barlow, black satin; M. Callaghan, black satin; M. Collins, old gold satin; M.. Dillon, pink windswept satin; A. Dillon, lemon and black crepe de moire; Tarves, black velvet; R. Cnley, violet satin; P. Laverty, blue and eold satin; A. Smith, cream satin; J. Lindsay, apple green crepe, de, chine; M. Byall, violet velvet; Mrs A. Stevenson, pink organdie.

So large was the audience last evening at the. Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, when the Dunedin Repertory Society held a social eveping and presented three oneact plays, that the gallery had to be opened in order to provide extra seating accommodation. Mr Hercules Henderson, addressing those pre3en£, made complimentary reference to the success of " London Wall," which, owing to a well-chosen cast and good producing, had created a record in the society's history. Miss Bessie Thomson had now been made official producer and would be in charge of the rest of the society's performances for the year, the next of which was to be " Pygmalion," by Bernard Shaw. He also announced that Mrs Allan Johnson had won the prize for selling the most tickets for "London Wall." There were then presented three one-act plays. The first, representing, a scene in a tube lift in London, was " live Birds in a Cage," by Gertrude Jennings, produced by Miss Isabel Seelye, with the following cast:—Nelly, Jean Lennox: Susan (Duchess of Welshire), Isobel Seelye; Leonard (Lord Forth), John Bowron; Bert, Clarence Paine; and Horace, the Liftman, Tom Harvey. Nelly was most convincing when she was not talking, hev acting, while others were in conversation, being very good; Sufean grew in strength as the play advanced and, towards the end, made every comedy speech a telling one; Leonard was excellent—always in character; but Bert was rather too comic to convey an impression of reality. Mr Tom Harvey ; as the liftman gave perhaps the best presentation of all and achieved a really humorous effect without overdoing it. The next playquite different—was "Barbaras Wedding" by «L"M. Barrie, produced by Miss Ina 'Macrae, with the following cast:--Colonel, Richard While: Dering, John Havward; Karl, Leslie Burt; Billy, Philip Ncvill; Ellen, Elsie M.Teak; and Barbara, Sylvia Alexander. This was obviously the Colonel's play and was handled with great delicacy. Richard White's work as the Colonel beinc one of the outstanding performances of the evening. Dering wa* better as a gardener than as a .soldier; Karl was very engaging and boyish; but Billv was rather wooden and did not quite know what to do with himself. Barbara gave a very natural. performance, and Ellen was almost the ideal Barrie woman, her sweetness just failing to achieve the real Barrie note. Finally wag "Five Characters in Search of a Change," by Hugh Beresforcl. produced by Mr Krnest Griffin, with Jlr J. Lennox as the author, Mrs Hugh Speight as the landlady, Miss D. Watson a* Lady Celia Cavendish, Mr F. J. M Donald as the vicar, Mrs Gair as the old ladv Mr Warrington Taylor as the duke, and Miss T. Wood as Mary, the vicars daughter. Mrs Hugh Speight was the best performer in the play, her work being full of force and character; the author was "ood. but was not quite sure of himself on occasions; Lady- Celia. was very much Ladv Celia. and sustained her part; and the vicar did his part splendidly, creating most of the laughs; the old lady was amusing; and the duke and Mary what the author had meant them to be, though the plav itself gave the last three only a small chance of showing what they could do. All three plays were well staged, and provided excellent entertainment for the large number of members ,-jnd visitors, who, after witnessing them, spent an enjoyable hour in social iutercourse arid dancing.