"THE COURT CARDS."

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13575, 31 December 1914, Page 8

"THE COURT CARDS."

A DELIGHTFUL BNTERTAIN-

MEN'T.

Quito a" novel and a most attractive entertainment was given at the Opera House last night, when a big audience greeted the opening performance in Gisborne of Mr Edgar Warwick's Costume Concert Company, "The Court Cards." Tho company comprises old and new friends, -every "card' being n veritable "trump," and scoring on all occasions. Tho audiejieo was most enthusiastic throughout; nothing w.as given without ii hearty recall, and in some instances, there were numerous ,recalls. Excellent musfical faro was served up in a way that delighted everyone. There was much to admire, many opportunities for a good laugh at 1 some' of the clever whimsicalities, nnd,.,the .musical items were all keenly appreciated. There are features that remind one of the popular Scarlet Troubadours, but thi; ''Court Cards" fairly stand out on their own, and 'ihoiiid have a very successful season iu the Dominion. The bright opening chorus deals with the different cards >' .repaiesielnttedb includbig the merry n who hud' a droll way of making' Jlis influence' felt among the pack. ''•Messrs iSydnfcy MJaaicierinfj, Gooi'ge Titchener, and Edgar Warwick .at once becaftie great favorites with their vocal trios,- comprising "Hoop la Alley" and '''Pom-Porn*,'- One number being by way of mv encore. Mr George Graystbne, vrho-has a deep bass voice, gave the fine old song "Asleep in the Deep" in a manner "Ghat evoked much applause, and | he had to ! respond to a most hearty en- j core. 'Mr- George Titchener, in addition to-being a fine singer, is a. humorist of some ability, and he had the audience in roars of laughter in the j descriptive domestic song "When Father was, -Mother," depicting what happened during father's term in the kitchen, j *F6f"*iv encore he gave a clever imitation of a. rather stupid Devonshire lad, ; ?v4tbv the iWOi^ds- "H think I'll be going 'nbwj!' -Jliss' Renee Maude sang a sweet" croon sbng, "A Savannah Lul- 1 >lafey," and of course had an enthusiastic J recall. A great hit was made by Miss I "Maude Fane &uA Mr Tichener in a duolJ'.and waJtz item, "Won't \ r ou Waltz with M^," a repetition being necessary. rThe'-pbpular tenor, Mr Sydney Manner-, ■Hn^f, was in fine voice, and sang with "great success, "Somewhere a Voice is Calling," and by way of a.n encore, lie, : sa*ig"The Trumpeter", even, more successfully. Mr Eidgar Warwick, as "The Jqker,-'* gave some droll ditties in a most comical 'way', such as the trials of : 'tbe fishermen Tfrho went out to the tuwo of "Gathering Nuts in May," while for a. triple encore "I'm Tired" delighted • The part singing was a special feature, and unaccompanied quartettes by Messrs Mannering, ~W«r-'wick,--Albert Keats, and Gray stone were ; much appreciated, "CalHhg of the Sea" Beixig ; an exceptionally fine number. *'Mu)ligan, Musketeer," was given as an enoore. Miss Maude Fane proved great favorite with, her amusing songs, "Poppy" being supplemented by "Beaur tifuf-^ggs"' as an «ncore. - The first .half of the programme .concluded with "an 'entertaining scena,, entitled "A Big Game Expedition," in Svhich the Kaiser 'waa'diie of the! characters represented 'iti a 'satirical fa-shion, to^ the delight of' the audience. The second portion of ; th6: programme opened with a most effective representation of "Powder attd Patches," or old English court style, and an old EngKsh dance was given in *a most graceful manner. The solo, *Drink to .Me Only with T^iine Eyes," was sung in a most 6xpres6ive way by Mr Mannering, there being; the inevitable encore, when "Old-fashioned House"" was sung. Miss' Maude Fane and Mr- Edgar Warwick, in their coivrt •costumes, gave some droll 'duets, .such a« "An, "Episode" and "Married and Single," which greatly pleased the ttudias did >sgngs by Mias Renee Maude. "Will Shakespeai'e in a Tabloid Form" gave some new -versions of Shakespeare in a tuneful v^ay, a,nd then Miss '"Winifred Mitchell proved how a skilful violinist can arouse the enthusiasm of an audience. She played so well that she wa* recalled ..twice and played further selections, and even then had to appear again" and . bowser acknowledgments. BOei"^'irUniberS'>-uicluded "Brensong," "Serenade," «nd '^Tarantella." '^tiss- -Maude^- Fane'^ain ■ gave much pletMlhlr© with -hex sihgiiig of tuneful num|>to^'such as "Kcoadilly <Percy," and made; -hex chief suocetesof the eyeiv ing by hel?'dislightful singing of Susie's Se'Wilig Shhis ; ' for ■ Soldiers/' this leadijig • to ' af'warm v triple ; encore. The '-'final scena » swas in the form of' ;«C- drama- set t-o ; music, in which herd,'-, ihei'oinc, arid viUain, with incidental icharacters, played thei£ parts, and pfevidedtw^a^v-most enterUuning muisica¥<burlfteq'ue. The season wiU-b^^continufed at the .Opera House to-night. A complete change of programme is announced for each evening, and the Cards can be ; ward^ly Commended to the people of Gisbotne' ; by those -who had the pleasure of attending their opening entertainment. « ■;».■•-.■ . ■