THE DOMINICAN CONVENT SCHOOL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 196, 29 December 1876, Page 11

THE DOMINICAN CONVENT SCHOOL.

On Thursday afternoon a large number of ladies were invited by the Lady Superior of the Dominican Convent to be present at a. dramatic performance by the pupils attending the school, prior to their dismissal for the holidays. The piece chosen for representation was a dramatised version of the late Cardinal Wiseman's celebrated novel of " Fabiola." The drama is in five short acts, ana the plot is very simple. All the interest is centred in the persecution of the Christians by the Roman Emperor, the conversion to the Christian faith of Fabiola, a haughty Patrician Roman lady; and the martyrdom of her gentle cousin, the Lady Agnes, and the heroic boy Pancratius. In the first act the characters are all introduced at the house of Fabius, a Pagan nobleman of Rome, when a warm discussion upon the merits of Christianity and Paganism takes place between Fulvius and Sebastian. The young ladies who enacted these characters played their pares, admirably, especially the former, who, entering thoroughly into the spirit of the piece, looked and acted the part of the Syrian spy to perfection. Fabiola, the learned and^ philosophical daughter of Pabiu», was of gesture. The young lady who undertook the part of Pancratiu** one of the most difficult in the piece, did so upon very short notice, notwithstanding -which, she acquitted herself most creditably. Agnes, the martyr, and the Christian slave Syra, through- whose iastrumentality Fabiola was converted, were played -with carefulness and effect ; as were also the characters of Corvinus, Tertullus, Alfra, and the Sentinel. Throughout the whole piece the young ladies played with that natural easy grace and unaffected demeanour which can only spring from perfect culture and careful . training. The musical part of the entertainment was all that could be desired. Two of the pupils presided at the piano during the afternoon, and the excellence of their playing was very naucn admired, especially a difficult selection from "Fra Diavolo," by four of the young ladies, and the "Marche aux Flambeaux." During an interval of a quarter of au hour the visitors were hospitably entertained at the Convent. The second part of the programme consisted of " Whittington and his Cat," which caused great amusement, the performers, with one exception, being very small. The amount of dramatic talent exhibited by the youthful players was really astonishing, especially the little lady who played the part of the hero. She was not only letter perfect, but seemed to thoroughly appreciate and give expression to the quaint humour of the character. The dresses in both pieces were appropriate and tasteful. The school-room had been decorated and darkened, and tbe stage lighted by footlights. The scenery had" been kindly lent ,by Mr. Hume, Superintendent of the Asylum. The whole performance was very enjoyable, and eminently successful from an artistic point of view. The following day the children attending St. Joseph's school received their holidays, and at their concert displayed considerable musical proficiency, both vocal ana instrumental. The concert was followed by an amusing little trifle, "The Peasant Queen," in which two of the girls created amusement by their comic impersonation |of the characters Jof Bettina and Mrs. McMurdo. — These pleasant entertainments have a beneficial influence both in affording the children an object of interest to which they may look forward while at school, and as pleasant reminiscences of their school life after they have left their school days behind them. The parents of the children educated in the Convent owe to the nuns a debt of gratitude far beyond the mere repayment of a fee, for, owing to the untiring zeal and patience of those ladies, the children educated under their care, when' they • leave school, do so with minds well stored with sound principles or morality, with intellects cultivated, and manners refined, and are '■ thus fitted to take their places in the world as useful members of-, society and accomplished ladies.