ENTERTAINMENT IN AID OF ST. JOSEPH'S

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 6, 30 May 1884, Page 18

ENTERTAINMENT IN AID OF ST. JOSEPH'S

CHURCH, LYTTELTOff.

Week anything wanting to encourage our beloved and zealous pastor in the arduous and manifold duties of his new charge, it must needs be the unqualified success attending our entertainment here on the evening of ihe Bth inst.

The Committee of Management, with Mr. W. J. Harrington as Secretary, after having secured the best talent iv Cbrirstchurch and Lyttelton, issued a long and varied programme, which, judging from the large sale of tickets, promised a overflowing house. Our expectations, therefore, were fully realized, and a suffocating crush would have been unavoidable but for a counter attraction in another quarter— viz., a large meeting of Sir George Grey's admirers, while a more serious drawback still appeared in a regular downpour, which must have damped the courage of many of our expectant visitors from a distance. Fortunately, both unlooked-for events had no worse a tendency than leaving us a comfortably packei house. The first item was a splendidly executed overture oa the piano by Miss O'Brien and Miss Lilly O'Brien ; the former of whom having played the accompaniments throughout the evening in her usually 'brilliant style, was the recipient of hearty applause, which followed her to the end. Next came Miss Doherty in " Kathleen Mavourneen," who infused into her singing all the sweet tenderness inseparable from that charming ballad. The scene now changed from the pathetic to the humorous in the person of Mr. Kerr in character, who was simply inimitable in " Widow Malone,' 1 and fairly "lifted the house" by nis personation of the garrulous housewife, who while nursing her, baby interlarded her song with the current gossip of the village This was considered the gem of the evening, judging from the applause which followed the ending of the piece. Miss Grace Pender did full justice to "Eileen Alannab," as well as Mr J. Carder who rendered the " Maid of Athens," with much power and' effect. Miss Adams fairly enchanted the audience in " Remember or Forget," which, as well as those preceding, was rapturously encored. The scene between Hubert and Prince Arthur from Shakespeare's "King John," was recited with true elocutionary force and artistic effect by Mr. McCarthy and was highly appreciated. Mr. Adams' stump speech on the leading questions of the day was highly entertaining, and required no ordinary abilities in the speaker to keep a large audience amused, while his subject-matter was so skilfully disconnected. Mr. O'Callaghan, the champion Irish dancer, now mounted the platform, which, though spacious enough, appeared rather limited for that rollicking Irishman, who. while tripping the " light fantastic," twirling his shillelagh in time, made many fairly wince lest he might try its effect on their polis. This concluded the first part. Miss Hill's able rendering of the " Dear Little Shamrock," Mr. Kerr in •« Joe, the Boat's going over " and Miss Doherty's " Mary of Argyle," were deservedly applauded and encored. Mr. Lilly O'BrieD, in character, sang "Diivenfrom Home " with that expression and true pathos peculiar to this plaintive song, and was vociferously encored. Mr. Harrington and Miss Pender followed in their usual pleasing style, after whom came Mr. Catheroe and Mra. O'Bielly in that witty and charming duet " Gan^ awa', Jamie," with an encore, followed by the above-named lady and Mr. Collins in that amusing duet "Very Suspicious," which was very pleasingly rendered and encored. . Mr. O'Callaghan again appeared in character and danced the "Sailor's Hornpipe" in fine style. A farce, entitled the " Spectre Bridegroom," in which Mr. Brown was Squire Aldwinkle ; Mr. Hall, Nicocleonus ; Mr. Adams, Captain Vauntingdon ; Mr. Bagley, Dickory ; Mr. Hennessy, Paul ; audMr. Comer, Thomas, was ably sustained by the above gentlemen in their respective rSles, and brought the proceedings to a end ; after which " God Save the Queen " was given right heartily. Mr. W. J. Harrington then came before the curtain and warmly thanked the ladies and gentlemen who rendered their services so ably, our non-Catholic friends for their presence and patronage, and finally our numerous visitors from Chri&tcburch, as well as those of our own congregation, who worked with a will to make the entertainment a Buccess.