WELLINGTON ORPHANS' CLUB.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13316, 17 January 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

WELLINGTON ORPHANS' CLUB.

A SPLENDID ENTEPvTAINMKNT. (From "Tho Colonist," Jan. 5.) Appreciation of the generous action of tlio Wellington Orphans' Club in coming to Kelson to give a concert in aid of. tho Nelson Hospital Nurses' Home eotdd not have been more generously shown than by the splendid audience. which assembled in the Theatre Royal last evening. When the -performance started there was not v scat to be had in the. building, and many stood in tha aisles and at tho entrances. Tho Orphans' Club is a well known Wellington: institution, and its popularity has increased wonderfully in the ku:i few. years': During last .year poriorivianc?s wore given at Palli'.arston North and at Mastcrton for a similar object as in Nelson, and as here there were packed houses on t. cry occasion. It was very iitting that the NoJboii public realised its obligation to this band of young men .\>y the attendance last evening, and t : ;e prolonged applause and recurring cue-ores w-?rc all deserved. Tho performance must rank as oi;o of the brightest and most entertaining of its hind ever performed before a local gathering. The atmosphere wit'i the horns as a whole was a bright and liii'.ssieal one, and though in few cases tiie items had been heard before, their quality and tho manner in which they v.cmo given bora the repetition. Prior ):) tho performance, and in the interval, members of the ladies' committee sold sweets amongst the audience, and this resulted in £;"> towards the fund. .Much Credit is due io Mr W. T. \\ ard, who, at a fow hours' notice, collected the orchestra which provided i .vo very much applauded overtures. The body of entertainer*:, containing Messrs Ti. N. Fletcher, D. A. Kenny, A. W. Newton, and Captain Stevens, of tiie Wellington Savage Club, only arrived in t!>; morning, and will leave ag-iin by the Pateena to-morrow. After the ojKMiing chorus Captain A. G. sang "1 Like you in Velvet," a fjuietly hmrnrous ditty, which drew for an encore "The Cautious Lover.' 1 ■■ nag in or.-itorin style with a profound i'.ccompaninu'nt. while the words contained delightfully matter-of-fact humour. A curious instrument, but a pleasing one. was Mr W. F. Connors' !>::!•.jo-mandoline, and his first item, "The. Darkey's Patrol," had to be fol--I'iwcd by "Believe Me if All." The lecture on phrenology as delivered by Mr Cu'l'ord Hell derived its uudeniabk attraction hum the quaint effects created by discussion on obvious truths with professorial dignity, Nyvt'ch and treatment. Mr 11. N. Fletcher sang i;i a pleasing tenor ••l.ovo, Could I Only Tell Tliee," and »n being recalled, "Songs of Araby." .Mr I). A. Kenny's stay on the pjatConn was a long one, and tho audience were i'or a like jieriod convulsed with laught-.'r. Before he was allowed to go the accompanist to the party had rendered in great style, and with much more than ordinary musical ability. "When Richard T sat on the Throne,''. '•Hiuibilitetv' and "It Does Go." The first part of the programme was concluded by the "'Pay Song," during which an appeal was made for funds towards the Nurses' Home. A large flag was held by the corners on the stage, and silver was thrown therein from all parts of the house, no less than £4 10s being derived in this manner. An appeal was inside to the audience t;> come again to-night, and to bring more silver with them. After thy orchestral item Messrs Newion and Kenny sang "Great Scott." and for :u\ encare '•Chestnuts," a new and telling humorous duet. I)r A. W. Isizrd foil lowed with a lecturette on "Childish Wisdom," and the funny side of his anecdotes fell on no barren ground in his hearers. Mr C. Girdlestoue's impersonations of various pooj'lo giving "The Charge of the Light Brigade," were a decided success, and the originality ho displayed gave this selection a refreshing touch which only a genuinely good comic man can infuse. His second.piece was ..'.'Cunmi-i Home.'' iTessrs" "Fletcher and Jiiekmott were ivcaih.-:! ior a duet "Still is the Night," which was tastefully rendered. The sleight of hand turn of Mr M. Major was remarkably good for an amateur, and none of the tricks could bo seen through. Hearty applause followed this very adept performance. Probably the most effective item of the evening was a dramatic scene from tho play "The Sign of the Cross," the parts being taken as follows: Marcus Superbus, Air S. Tin gey ; Nero, Mr R. A. lveenan ; Tigellinus, Mr J. CuH'ord Hell. Sufficient is to say that all three displayed very creditable elocution and though just a .".natch of the plot, the way the scene wis rendered took a grip <if the- audience. Messrs Koiiu.v, Newton, Jiiekmott, ami Captain Stevens as a quartette gave tho closing item, "Simple Simon.'' and rendered it sis it .should be given. I'or sin emphatically demanded encore "They Kit:s--ed'l was .sung, thus bringing to a conclusion itn sidmirabie programme. Jan. (i. The second <>ntert:iinnipnt given by the Wellington Orphans' Club in aid of the Nelson Hospital Nurses' Home was: attended by .■>. very largo audience in the Thfi-ti'- Royal last evening. The programme w:.'s a new one, and was cni'ddercd by many who had .isi- :. nod to both performances to be b'.'itc'r than th>.' lirst night. From a financial point of view the \ i>it of the Orphr.ns Sms been vm uiK|U:ili>ii'd sticccss, ;-i:d tho funds in :iid of the Horn:! have b-Jii'.'Jited to a very large t'.\tont. Lai-t night's progi.iniin;- wiif jis loll<iv.-> :—Overture, imhitm; opening chorus. "Merriest. Fellow? 'iro \\ s'" ; ynig, Captain Stevens, "Sergeant of the Line," (:•:(")!'" "Our Little Nipper 1' ; humourous IJkctch, Mr A. Newton, "After Dinner Speeches," encore "A Farnici in New York" song, "■(! C. Hickmott. "Ti<,()per .lobitny Ludlow,'' encot:."A. Perfect Day"; banjo-mandoline solo, Mr F. W. Connors. "TinDarkey's Patrol," encore "Jiolievi 1 Me if All"; humourous recitation, lir C. Girdlestone, "The j]ald-head"d I\Lan," encore "Monkey Hand So?p" ; ;;o!ig, Mr 11. N. Fletcher, "Angel:; Guard Thee," encore "Home, Little Maori Home" (a composition by Mi Hill, of Wellington); humourous song, Mr D. Kenny, "Has it ever occurred to You," encores "Risilnlitoo." and "Whon tho .Minister Comes to Tea" : "Pay Song," Mr C. llickmou. Si-cond half: Overturo. orchestra ; "'.SiHjvlock Holmes," Messrs S. Tingey, C. Girdlestone, J. Culford li.'ll; huniouroiis <luet, Messrs D. Kenny ";;;1 A. W. Newton, "Chestnuts," en-c;ii-e, "Our 'Ans p.n' our 'Arts": "Great Scott" ; Iccturetto on epigrams, Dr. Js-.ird; duet. Mcssi--HI.-!.inr,tt .-ud Fletcher, "Still os 1hNight..'l iccfdlrd; sleight of hand, Mi F. .V.'iior; humourous recitation, Mi J. Culford Bell, "Proposals," encon"Palsoy" ; quartette, Messrs Kenny. Newton, Hickmott ami Captain St'> •. oiiE. "'Black our Eye," encore "Simple Simon." Mr 1). A. Kenny ••!<■- cojnpp.niinl the prrfonners throughout.