FIRE BRIGADE ENTERTAIN. MENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5700, 21 February 1890, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADE ENTERTAIN. MENT.

As well it deserved to be, the entertainment in the City Rink last evening in aid of the funds to send a Fire Brigade representative team to the annual Fir's Brigades Demonstration at Wellington -was a decided success. Thesa firemen deserved to be encouraged in their endeavors to gain the top of the tree in their particular branch of athletics, which aimed for the public good, and the entertainment merited success, for it was a sterling, one ' for which all that energy and thought could suggest had been done to make it go well. The City Eink was well filled, the expectations of the firemen evidently being realised, for all the seating accommodation provided was filled up. The entertainment was ushered by a torchlight procession and display of fireworks The Brigade headed by the Garrison Band paraded the streets, and in Gladstone road a quantity of fireworks, were let off vv hen the Rink was reached a brilliant flare-up of colored fire was lit, and a miniature fire balloon sent heavenwards. All this had the effect o£ drawing a crowd within the walls of the. hall. The bill of fare consisted in the first part of a concert, with " all stars," and in the second with a dramatic performance, * His iixcellency. '• The concert wag really a good one, and the public appreciation of it will be seen when it is stated that every item of it ,was encored. The ladies and gentlemen who contributed songs are all favontes with the concert-going public, and there was not one of them but received a hearty reception immediately they came on the stage. The overture was performed by five firemen with brass instruments, and was a selection from "The Ministrel," it being executed with much precision. Mr Parnell sang "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep," but although his voice was in all respects pleasing it hardly found sufficient depth for the song. The song he furnished as an encore, "For the Winds may blow," was appreciated by the audience, for in it Mr Parnell's fine vocal abilities were well displayed. Mrs Herinessy was the next on the list, and she sang the beautiful composition of Gounod's "Ring on Sweet Angelus" in a manner which more than charmed her audience. Her, fine voice was skilfully displayed throughout.the intricacies of the song and in every way was the number delightful. To the demand of thunders ° m> api i al^ c ' «*i M Henne ssy next sang The Maid of the Mill", with much purity of tone and sweetness. • Father Kehoe ™ n g " The Har P fchafc once through Tara's ilalls in powerful voice, and to the inevitable demand for encore the Scotch song " Will ye noo' come back again." Miss Adair then sang with aiTthe charming manner for which she has made herself deservedly a warm favorite ■" ';« Believe me if all those endearing young charms." In response to demands she sang some lines from "Old Folks at home." Mr Yv oodward was billed for his popular recitation, " How we beat the Favorite ," but somebody gave him tlie office that he would not survive it i^fce- attempted it, and a song was furnis^e^ instead Ifc speaks well for Mr Woodward's elocutionary powers that that recitation has survived the many years that Gisborne has' known him, and is still liked now and again. The hunting song "Reynard" went with even more than the usual gusto, and when Mr Woodward was called to the front again he gave "Wrap me up " the "Buffer" song. Miss ScHultz waa next on the programme, singing " It was a Dream" with sweetness and great nicety, and waa greatly applauded, father Kehoe next; sang " The Minstrel Joy and "Shandon Bells," his voice being still as powerful as before. The accompaniment to " Shandon Bells "was very nice. Mr Airey played most of the accompaniments and also an overture to the second part. "His Excellency" has been performed with great suocess iii the country, but this was the first appearance of the. drama m town. Amateur theatricals are sometimes looked upon as though they could not possibly be successful, but itljas been demonstrated arid proved by the" last two entertainments that they just hit the public taste, and that a superfluity of Concerts gets wearisome. There is some good dramatic talent in the Bay, and 'why do we not get more from it ? That the last dramas produced have scored signal success is not to be denied, and even if they were to be repeated they would not be played to empty benches. Our amateur actors deserve every encouragement. Ih " His Excellency " great histrionic talent was shown by the leading characters. It is needless again to re-tell the plot. As Count Rosada, Mr Dalrymple pouvtoaye<l with great skill the diplomat embassy ' _wJioaaamisfQrJllhJJaugUter''wei>g^i^v> fpWk_ part of the daughter, Isabella, found life m Miss Adair,whose, acting waaperfection. Her appearance was in e.Verywajr "taking, 3 ', and she acted the "fetal passion " with great truth. ■ That rogue Larose was exceedingly well . personified by Mr Mann, who acted 'the cunning, scheming valet to perfection. Mr GilUmore seemed a triiJe stiff as Theodore do Rougement, hut his "make up" was good and. it only requires greater frequoaoy before an audience to, get over little embarrassments. AH tH,e parties' took their lines well and threw much expression into tlx^ip pajts. The piece waa well mounted.