WAITARA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 145084, 8 September 1916, Page 7

WAITARA.

MRS. NATHAN’S RECITAL. fkom our own cennrsroNDENr. September B.—lt is noticeable that the people composing an audience usually change with the character of the entertainment given. It therefore follows that in a small place, when an entertainment of a more or less mtellcctnal description is provided, there is a falling-off in the number of tlioso present, for obvious reasons. Mrs. Nathan’s recital last night attracted only a fairly largo audience, which presumably proves that intellectual amusement seekers are in.the minority. The programme was opened by a pianoforte solo by Mrs. Marlow, followed by Air. Norman Day, who was heartily welcomed by his many Waitara friends. He contributed during the evening A Song of the Bow,” “Little Mary Fawcett,” “Summer Rain,” and that lino seng “ Invictus,” and in each cllort was most_ successful, for he was in excellent voice. Miss Peart, too, did splendidly, although her first song would have sounded better had she come more forward on_ the platform and allowed her fine voice to go into tho hall instead of partially striking the curtain. Happily this was altered in her subsequent songs. Her contributions were well chosen, and were all choice works, “Down in the Forest,” “An Old Garden,” “For the Green,” “Tho -Night Nursery,” tho “Old Flagged Path, ” and “May Day at Islington. 1 ' It is difficult to write of Mrs. Nathan's part in tho programme. It was so varied, for she was equally at home taking the part of Queen Catherine from a scene in Henry Vll. as she apparently was as a coster’s wife, or a maid of all work. Tho former was a classic rendering of a classic work. To my mind the dainty fairy taio of tho “ Selfish Giant” was tho most taking, in which incidental music ■was supplied hy Mrs. Marlow. Here may I mention that a concert or recital is often, if not usually, made or marred by tho accompanist. Many people can thump the keys while a song is being sung, hut to accompany a suigor is au art, while more difficult still is it to accompany a recitation. The music, in tho “Scilish Giant,” although of no apparent difficulty, was very appropriate to tho words, tho leading motif being the giant’s voice, to bo heard rumbling along in tho bars. Again the accompaniment for the songs eung during tho evening by Miss Peart and Mr. Day required more than ordinary skill to play them as they should be played. For these reasons I have written a few words in commendation of the accompanist, who, in common with roost writers in describing concerts, I have usually overlooked altogether, or damned with slight, very slight, praise. At cveiy possible moment during the evening ladies were busy in tho hall soiling lollies, ices, flowers, and, worst horror of all, poannts, and those with sharp ears would sometimes, in a thrilling part of ono of -Mrs. Nathan’s performances, hear a sharp crack of a peanuts as it fulfilled its destiny. Altogether the evening’s entertainment was most successful, and although I could have wished to have soon the hall erowdod to the doors, tho Soldiers’ Comforts will probably bo increased bv -Mrs. Nathans recitals bv about £2O.