Greytown Winter tainments.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1869, 11 August 1886, Page 2

Greytown Winter tainments.

A most inclement night earned the usual Monday evening entertainment last week to be postponed, and last Monday evening very little better, preventing those living at a distance, who had promised to take part, from being present, and also thining the audience considerably. There was, however, a good attendance, end Messis Porritt and Skeet, the committee who arranged for the evenings entertainment, must have been satisfied with the result of tbeir labors. Miss A. Cameron opened the proceedings with a well played overture. Mrs Aruot, who suffered considerably from nervousness, then sang “Apart," and the audience being in sympathy with her she received an encore. We hope this lady will come forwuid again on another occasion, when we feel sure she will make a good impression upon her hearers and conquer what most vocalist* have to contend with who do not appear often before the public on the stage. Dr Hpratt was happy with his reading “ The Heathen Chinee’g Rabbit Pie." Mis* E. Wyett received an encore for her song ” The T i.ber Girl; ”it was nicely given. Mr T. A. Cox having a bad cold, substituted a reading (or a song : “ Bret Harte's Heathen Chinee." Miss Jessie Cameron, of whom we on previous occasions have spoken in terms of highest praise (or her clear voice and distinct artiouls* tion .was all tbst could be desired on the present occasion. Her song “ Who's that Tapping at the Garden Gate," was excellently rendered and the encore she received for it came from all parts of the house. For one se young sh* sings with much taste and finish. “ The Arab’s Farewell to his Steed " was the title of Mr Cuff’s song ; it was well rendered, and in response to an encore sang in vigorous style “ A Motto for Every Mao.” Mr Sheet's reading 11 Stivers’ Horse ” draw ripples of laughter from the hudience. Mr Black was warmly encored for his song " The Gallants of England," and in reply gave “ The King's Minstrel." A piano and violin duet by the Misses Alice and Olive Fuller was well listened to. Little Miss Olive is an olive branch that her papa and mama may well feel proud of; she was the admiration el the audience for the way in which she used her bow upon the strings of her instrument. The duet was rapturously encored, and was replied to with a change of music. Mr Herbert Hodge made his first appearance at these entertainments in a humorous song “ Joe Muggins,” and he was warmly eaoored. The nest item was an operatic song, “ Fernando," and as Mrs F. Collier bad never made any pretensions to singing and there was no one to accompany her on the piano, it was feared the task would be too much fur her. Mr F. H. Wood, in introducing this lady, said it would be necessary for her to sing in Italian and without an accompaniment and expressed a hope that the audieuoa would take this into consideration. But what a surprise ! Mrs Collier came modestly forward without any outward show and in pure Italian warbled forth her song to a stilled audieuoe. It was sweetly and beautifully sung and the audience broke forth in tremendous applause at the finish, which continued until this lady vocalist again appeared. Bowing her acknowledgements of the compliment she commenced another Italian soag. It now became evident that the fair debutante knew how to sing, and bad just arisen nut of obscurity like a stat from below the horizon. There was a style and finish about her vocalisation that kept her bearers entranced, and when she had finished her second effort they applauded and encored to such a degree that she had to appear a third time. Again she changed her song and retired amid deafening applause. We learn that in her younger days Mrs Collier received some training as an operatic singer, hut she relinquished the life upon the death of her mother. Mr Wood then introduced Monsieur de Mey, who had just come up from Wellington, and that gentleman sat down to the piano and ran off with good execution a selection from memory. His effort was much appreciated, and be then struck the note of the National anthem, in which the audieuoe joined and then dispersed. Next Monday evening one hour of the entertainment will ho devoted to negro minstrelsy, in which several local gentlemen will take part as “ darkies." Brudder Johnson, Tambo and Bones will be there, and we have no doubt there will be some good songs and choruses. There will be also a military song by half a dozen lads in volunteer uniform. Dr Bey and Mr Wood are the gentle* men working up the next concert, and they are " cracking eu all sail,'' as nautical men say. Their programme will be oue of the beat of the series.