CRICKET CLUB ENTERTAINMENT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XI, Issue 751, 27 February 1878, Page 2

CRICKET CLUB ENTERTAINMENT.

The entertainment given by the Law-: rence Cricket Club on Friday evening last was an unqualified success, looked at from every point of view. As regards- the attendance, the Town Hall was well filled, and that cannot be said unless there are 300 persons in it ; then as to talent, j we do not think an amateur company could be got together to display, more ability than we had the pleasure of witnessing on the occasion in question. It may be said that the Cricket Club was greatly indebted to the Tokomairiro contingent for the very successful programme which was presented. The" assistance rendered by Messrs Fred. Bastings, Grant, and McDonald was simply invaluable... J?ar be;it from ns to detract from the praise which is their due ; we have no reason to do so — in fact, quite the reverse, for it will be remembered that the two former gentlemen, who contributed

the lion's share to the success of the entertainment, are old Tuapekaites, and no doubt received their first inspirations by contact with the genius of the people amongst whom they erstwhile resided. We ought therefore to be proud rather than jealous that the children have outstripped the parents. The songs and choruses were, without exception, very creditably rendered. We have heard objections to them on the ground of their being too sentimental, but this, in our opinion, constituted the redeeming feature of the programme. The 'witching sweetness of the piece, "I'm waiting my darling for thee ; " from the lips of Mr Woods, does not die away in a day, but produces a lasting impression. If anything caused the first part of the pro-gramme'to-hSng a little heavy, it "was the undue stringing out of the o'.d jokes by wie corner men ; but in this a large allowance has to be made, and on the principle of 4 good story will stand repetition, we can listen, without feeling annoyed, to some of the threadbare Sambo or Tony yarns, if only by way of affording us an opportunity of witnessing the effect produced on the juvenile portion of theaudience. We were exceedingly well pleased to see and hear our old friend, Mr John Grant, again. He continues to improve both as a*n instrumentalist and as a vocalist. I '?Down by ti.e deep sad sea" was really well rendered. Mr Grant knows the Bbnga that suit his- rich bass voice, and siags them well. Mr Downes gave his c » Noah's Ark," and, as usual, the wagging of the tails created immense laughter. We have seen our friend, Mr Fredv -Bastings^ more felicitous in the "corner. But; oh, that wretched hall, it was not worth Half the money paid for it! A large portion of the audience missed many points through the b-id acoustic properties of the building. It is awfully provoking to see some people brimming over, while you have lost the joke, and have to ask your neighbor on the seat, " What was that 1 " and then g>et no satisfaction, as he had missed it too. But if the first part did drag a little bit, the same' cannot be said of the second part, which was lively in the extreme, and from " Johnny Smoker " to the local "Nursery Rhymes," the interest was thoroughly sustained. "The Blue-lail'd Fly " of Mr Fred. Bastings* is always acceptable with its familiar and life-like buzzl Mr M'Donald's -flute solo was another noteworthy feature of the second part of the programme ; aud Mr Grant's song in character tJ The old man ain't what he used to be " was a great success. But we must not give all the praise to our Toko., friends. The Gendarmes Duet in character by Messrs Downes and Miller was Al. Their getup was immense. The spurs and helmets, red coats and long leather leggings, caught the fancy of the andience, and formed one of the events of the evening. But the crowning, hit of all was Levy on the cornet. Mr Fred. Bastings completely excels himself iv this caricature of the great cornet player. Armed with an immense instrument, that one would imagine him almost incapable of lifting, far less of wielding about at pleasure, he makes his body move to and fro in sympathy with the music that he appears to be producing by this prodigious trumpet. The thing is so well managed that many shrewd folk iv the hall were a good longtime before they saw the joke, but actually believed the music proceeded from the mimic cornet. The acting in this farce, if we may call it so, reflects most creditably upon Mr Bastings, and the playing of Mr Grant behind the scenes also deserves special mention, as both player and actor have to study each other very closely to produce such a telling effect. At the close of the enter-tainment-Mr Downes, on behalf of the Cricket Club, thanked the audience for their attendance, aud the friends who had assisted them from Tokomairiro. The club might probably get up another entertainment before long, which he hoped would be patronised liberally The following is the programme in the order in which it was executed : — First part : Overture, " Snow Drift Galop ; " Opening chorus, "Down the River," company ; "The Flower Girl," Mr E. Towsey ; " You've been a friend to me," Mr P. Miller ; " Fanny Frail," Mr F. Bastings ; " Little Crossing iS weeper," Mr W. F. Downes; "Tm waiting, my darling, for thee," Mr Woods; "Little brown jug," Mr Ed. Thompson ; " Down by the deep, sad sea," Mr Grant ; " Time may steal the roses, darling," Mr H. H. Holmden , " Noah's , Ark," Mr Downeaand company. Second; part : Overture ; " Johnny Smoker," in character, Messrs Grant and Bastings ; " Three black crows," in character,, Messra Downes, Miller, and Thomson ; "Blue tailed fly," Mr F. Bastings ; solo on flute, Mr M'Donald ; " Mother kissed me in myi dreams." (ballad), Mr J. J.. Woods} "Gendarmes duet," in character, "Messrs Downes and Miller ; song an^ .dance* " The big sun, flower," Mr J. Davidson'; "The old man ain't what he used to* be," Mr J. Grant ; Levy on the Cornet', Mr F. Bastings ; Nursery rhymes, Company. _