SACRED HEART SCHOOL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4552, 24 November 1887, Page 3

SACRED HEART SCHOOL.

ENTERTAINMENT. The Roman Catholics Timaru have certainly given pledges of their sincerity and proofs of their attachment to their Church,by the money they have subscribed to build, equip, and support their own educational establishments. Fortunately the Church can always command the gratuitous service of many cultured sons and daughters, whose lives are dedicated wholly to the work of teaching, and in Timaru the girls of the congregation attend either the convent school or the ordinary day school of the Sacred Heart, presided over by Madame Sullivan, whose high abilities are now generally recognised. One pleasing development of this special education scheme is the growth of pride and pleasure in it among the pupils. to see children proud of their school and loving it is a good sign always. Such being the base one can understand the remarkable heartiness and pleasure exhibited by the pupils of the Hacred Heart School last night in their entertainment,which we must pro; ounce the very best entertainment by young people ever given in Timaru. The affair took place in the spacious and comfortable boy’s school and it is estimated that four hundred persons were present, the place being crammed. Speaking generally of it we may say :--The choruses were most correct and melodious, but a little weak ; the solos were capital ; the

pianoforte playing was exceedingly good ; the spectacular parts were admirably and beautifully arranged; the dramatic business was most fascinating ; and last, but not least,' to our mind, the elocution was wonderfully good. In one case it was incomparable. One little flaw there was. viz : the burning of so much red powder as to set everybody coughing while “ Too Late” was being sung. How the poor children stood as they did and sang in the midst of a dense smoke is a mystery. (This should be remedied to-night) Three choruses were given by a band of little girls whose pretty appearance in white, and exceedingly graceful bearing won a burst of applause as soon as they appeared. All the vocal items were supported by Miss Mabel, Lovegrove, who accompanied the singers with great taste. Two pianoforte duets were rendered by little girls, Misses 0. and J. Hall, Collins and Fitzgerald and M.and A. Gardner. After the opening chorus came out a little lady (Miss A. McCarthy) to recite the wellknown fable : “The Wasp and the Bee.” This she did admirably, and it was a more trying piece for a child than many would imagine! The same may be said of Miss N. Fitzgerald’s piece “ Don’t Fret.” This was quite a taking piece and it won a round of applause. Little Miss Rodney’s soliloquy: “ What Mother Says ” was an inimitable “bit of business," and was received with loud applause. The special success of the first part of the programme was gained by the Misses Delany, Knight, Blake, McDonald, Durkin, Rodney, Madden and McCarthy in a simultaneous recitation “ The Bald Headed Man.” We have seen a good deal of the simultaneous recitation system (of which by the way the late T. P. Hill was a founder) but we have never heard an instance of it to compare with this. The piece was full of inflections, a most bright and amusing piece it was too, and it was given with all these as if by one voice,the simultaneous action being equally correct. The applause that followed this was long and loud.

The second part consisted of a dramatic piece entirely new to every one and really of very groat merit— “Polydorus, or an Idyl from Elf-land.” The cast was as follows : —Polydorus, Miss L. Collins; Eadabruk, Miss 8. Eenny; King Mauder, Miss M. M’Cormick; Queen Trestana, Miss 0. Hall; Fatima, Miss A. M. Gowan; Doctor Senoraptapes, Miss B. Wall; Doctor Epiphaudilis Mies C. Waterhouse ; Doctor Micolanticus, Miss M. Blake. The piece is a thoroughly amusing comedy, all the plot and situations of which are within the healthiest limits, yielding fun of the purest and still of the most lively description. One sat and laughed, but there was backbone in the piece and something to follow with the mind as well as with the eye. The stage arrangements were admirable. 'J here was but one little matter where perhaps an improvement might be made, i. e,, the entrance of the three doctors, who stood in the wings and wore not seen by half the audience.

The play had been splendidly prepared, and the wardrobes were most appropriate and tasteful. If we single out one performer for special commendation we do so merely because her rare excellence ought to bo mentioned and there can be no question of invidiousness. The title rdle was taken by Miss L. Collins. Of this little lady wo must speak in the very highest terms. Her elocution, we go far as to say, was incomparable. Her part was most trying in every sense, and she acquitted herself magnificently. Those who know what good delivery of a part is, should see Miss Collins to-night. Her delivery of the closing passage of her part last night was superior to anything we ever heard; this was the elocution of nature that owed something indeed to training, but was not the product of training. Bhe was deservedly awarded

with an ovation. The other parts j were all rendered with the utmost, correctness and spirit, Miss McCormick as the King looking particularly fine,and but for a plight soupgon of drawl speaking most charmingly. The intervals between the , acts'were enlivened by music. One of these : intervening pieces was the success of the evening, for it received a double encore, viz., ; Emmett’s character song “ Oh! vhere und . oh! vhere is mein leetle Dog gone ?” by Miss j B, Stephenson. This was inimitable and it j is very seldom indeed that one hears a char- i acter song rendered on the stage with more effect. The audience were perfectly enraptured and cave vent to a storm of applause and encores which was repeated after the little lady had responded by repeating the last verse. Miss E. Collins recited a long and trying piece “ King Robert of Sicily ” in magnificent stylo. Indeed her elocutionary power is little inferior to that of her sister referred to ' above. Some passages were given with extraordinary power, as the silent attentiveness of the audience testified. The play was in every sense a great success and we should advise everyone to see it to-night. It was most gracefully and pleasingly introduced by Miss M. Tymons who spoke an excellent prologue. Thejplay was succeeded by a series of tableaux, *• The Wise and Foolish Virgins,” a bit of spectacular effect which should be seen to bo appreciated. Taken as a whole the affair was a great success. The performance of last night gives us confidence in our belief that the colonials will speak the purest English, for certainly we never heard choicer pronunciation anywhere than that of the little 1 people who harried out this The ' Hibernian Band played outside the building ■ from 7.30 to 8 under (he conduct of Mr E. i Dennehy, Mr Dickenson being first cornet. I We are requested to intimate that this > evening Miss B. Stevenson will (by special < request) ting again “ The Leedle Dog,” and | another song. The Boat Chorus t will be in character with accessories. j