ENTERTAINMENT AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Argus, Volume XV, Issue 6044, 18 September 1903, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENT AT CAMBRIDGE.

Last evening an entertainment was given in the Alexandra Hall, Cambridge, in aid of the funds of the Cambridge Choral Society, and there was a bumper house. The first part of the programme was vocal and iustrunieutal, aud the second was devoted to the ever-verdant comedietta, 'To Oblige Benson.' The Society were lucky enough to secure the Bervices of Madame Chambers, the wellknown Auckland soprano, and .-he was a host in herself, contributing no less than five Bongs. Her first was 'At My Window,' and being encored she gave ' The Love Song of the Mavis.' Later on she cave a splendid tendering of' Vaoka's Song,' for which she was of courso encored, aud substituted one cf Tosti's compositions, of which we forget the name. This so pleased the audience that they would not be denied a double encore, and Madame Chambers kindly complied with 'The Swallows.' That this ladv pleased was demonstrated by a remark v m»de very audibly by a country settler as he left the building at the conclusion of the entertainment, namely, ' She is pretty to look at, and pleasant to hear; in fact, she is a topper.' Mr J. Wallace, of Hamilton, supplied the comio element, and of course he was vociferously encored. Mr G. W. Vena bles sang ' A Sold'er and a Man,' and had to repeat it. This gentleman has a good voice and uses it to advantage. Miss Margary was to have sung a song, but she played a piano solo instead. The Cambridge OroheUra gave several selections very creditably. Tney are improving;, especially the violins. The members of the Cambridge Choral Society were to have Riven two choruses from ' The Ancient Mariner,' but so few attended that one of them, a rather heavy chorus, was cut out. Tnis was owing to a number cf the members beina in the audience instead of on 'the platform. Though few in numbers the loyal members of the Society gave a good interpretation of ' The Ship Was Cheered,' and they deserve great creoit for the manner in which they stuck to their task.

We compliment the ladies and geut'e-' men upon the manner in which they staged and acted the comedietta. Miss Walker rose from a bed of sickness to take her part, and right well she did it. Her sister uho did remarkably wel l . Yon might travel a long distance without Hading a better Mrs Benson and Mrs Trotter-Southdown than the Misses Walker. Mr Arnold Wilkinson as Mr Trotter-Southdown, the eccentric farmer, was grand, but he always does well; and both Messrs Bockett and Farnall were good, the latter acted well and spoke plainly, generally a defecr in amateurs. We congratulate the Society on the successful entertainment, and trust its funds will he largely augmented.