VALERIE COLLINS CONCERT COMPANY.

Waipa Post, Volume IV, Issue 151, 4 October 1912, Page 3

VALERIE COLLINS CONCERT COMPANY.

At the Town Hall on Wednes-

day night an attractive and highly pleasing programme was submitted by the members of the above company in the presence of a very large audience. Considerable trouble had been taken to render the appearance of the

stage a pleasing one, and the efforts were most successful, the effect of the green draping and numerous palms making it look

a great deal prettier than it has done for many a clay, The items rendered were all of a very highclass character, and it is rarely that lovers of music in Te Awa-

niutu are supplied with such a treat. The overture and entr'acte were most creditably performed by the Te Awamutu Orchestra. The singing of Miss Valerie Collins, was of a very high standard,

but she was not to best advantage on account of the very bad throat from which she was suffering. Her items, "My Dear Soul," " The Perfect Day," " My Treasure," and "invitation," were beautifully rendered, and numerous encores were called for. Miss Collins was also heard to considerable advantage in the duet '"Nocturne " with Mr A. H. Ripley, and the trio "Maiden Fair, a Word, I Pray," with Messrs Ripley and R. H. Del low. The baritone of the company, Mr Dellow, gave a line rendering of the " Yeoman's Wedding Song " and "Nelson's Gone a-Sailing," the latter being received with particularly marked applause. Mr Ripley, a beautiful tenor, at once established himself as the favourite. It is seldom our pleasure to hear a tenor of the calibre of Mr Ripley. All his items were first-class, but his singing of "Bonnie Mary of Argyle " and "My Mary" were particularly pleasing. The playing of MiArthur Gordon, violinist, was quite a revelation, and w?s thoroughly appreciated by the audience, both his items being encored. Mr H. M. Cardon, the company's humorist, recited Kipling's " Gunga Din " in a very spirited manner, giving as an encore a dramatic version of "The House that Jack Built." His other items, "The Same Old Game " and " Napoleon's Tomb," were well received, the latter particularly giving full scope for his elocutionary ability. The accompanist, Miss Daisy Evans, performed her duties in ait accomplished manner. Altogether the entertainment was a very satisfactory presentation, and thoroughly deserved the success which attended it. When the present, tour is completed the company will be reorganised, and at a future date will again visit Te Awamutu. On that occasion it is reasonable to expect that the -Town Hall will prove too small to accommodate those present, as the good name the Valerie Collins Collins company has already made for itself in this district will be a sufficient attraction.