CATHOLIC CONCERT AT TEMUKA

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIV, Issue 35, 24 December 1886, Page 5

CATHOLIC CONCERT AT TEMUKA

(From an occasional Correspondent.) THK third annual concert given by the pupils attending the school of the Sisters of St. Joseph, was held in the Volunteer Hall on Thursday evening, the 16th, and was the most successful one ever held in i Temuka. The balij was crammed, all the available space being j filled up. The stage presented a very pretty appearance, being ; decorated in a most artistic manner with flowers and evergreens. In the vicinity of the footlights were several pots of beautiful geraniums, kindly lent by Mr. Joseph Wbiteheid, and on the front, | beneath the footlights, was worked in flowers the word "Welcome." On the whole, the stage preseated a most pleasing spectacle to the eye. Upon the curtain rising, Miss Lucy Quinn appealed before the vast audience, and opened the concert with a prologue ; she spoke in a distinct and impressive manner. Miss Quinn next rendered an overture on the piano in first-class style, which was followed by "King Christmas," a chorus.'ln this a great number of girls took part, each one being dressed in white, and having a bunch of flowers in hand. The sweet manner in which they sang, and the order in which they came and went off! the stage, spoke well for those who trained them. The dialogue " Too Good for Common School," between Masters J. Connelly, H. J. Louis, and T. Dunn, was spoken capitally, and wsb succeeded by " Fairy Bells," a song by little girls. The recitation " Holly and Ivy," canoe next. This was done full justice to by Misses A. Murphy and C. Gaffaney, each one saying her part well. The MibSes Connolly were very successful in their duet, " Whispering Hope," and received well-merited applause. Next came a veiy interesting dialogue, entitled "The falisman," in which Misses Murphy, Connel, Brosnan, and Woulfe took parr. In this piece Miss Murphy, a doctresn, wrought many family cures by simple remedies. For instance, a lady came to her whose husband used t> abuse her with his tongue. The doctress prescribed a bottle of water for In r, a mouthful of which she bad to tnke when her husband got in a passion, and the effects were marvellous. Of course, her mouth being full of water, she could not answer him, and he Boon coolled down. All the girls ppoke extremely well, Miss Woulfe especially, whose accentuation was grand. "Do They Mies Me at Home," by the boys, was nicely sung. Miss M. A. Connolly, who followed with a recitation entitled " The Flower Girl," was loudly applauded. The piece was given perfectly, for wbich she well deserved the praise she received. HJbi C. GUffaney next rendered " Those Evening Belle ;"

(piano solo), in a first-ch^s manner, considering her aga her fingering was good. The recitation " The Trades," by Masters J. Gaffaney, E. Lavery, M. Quinn, R. Bourke, J. Jackson, and M. Detnuth, was very amusing, and was well epoken. Master H. J. Lou^s proved successful in his comic song, " I'm Fond of Taking it Easy." '• The Adopted Child. 'by Misses Fitzgerald and E. Thompson, was really splendid. Miss E. Thompson i» a child of about four or five, and it would be impossible to improve the manner in which she played her part. The way in which she appealed to the lady to let her go to see her mother and brothers and sis-tern, was most impressive. A pin could be heard fall during the rendition of the dialogue. \ nuet by Misses Quinn brought the curtain down, in order to prepare the stage for a drama. Upon the curtain lising, was preseuted a sketch of the interior of ■'EinsclifiE Hall." The characieis wore represented as follows: — Couutess Moreland, Miss A. Connolly ; Miss Sinclair (her niece), Miss Fitzgerald ; Miss Hamilton (her niece), Miss C. Gaffauey ; Lucy (little housemaid), Miss L,ucy Quinn ; Evans (footman), Master H. J. Louis. In this Countess Moreland disguises herself, in order that she may judge for heiself which of her nieces (whom she expects to arrive at any moment) is the most worthy of her vast estate, and also to see whether their good behaviour is not overdrawn by their parents. This was the best itemjof the evening, and all did full justice to the author, especially Miss Lucy Qainn, considenrg her size. They all spoke in a manner which reflected great credit on those who taught them. The song and chorus •' Don't Let it Happen Again." by Masters T. Dunn, H. J. Louis, and tbe boys, brought the first part of the concert to a close. After an interval of five minutes, Miss Qainn opened the fcecond part with an overture, which was cleverly executed. This was succeeded by all the girls singing " Always Happy," which wag sung in a melodious tnannner. The next on the programme was the dialogue " Where Ignorai.ce is Bliss, 'twere Folly to be Wise," which was full of fun. Two pupils (Master H. J. Louis and T. Dunn) were seßt to a singing master (Master), who did not know a note of music. When they armed, he ordered them to sing " The Battle-cry of Freedom," but they replied it was usual for tbe master to sing it over firßt. He struck on a series of airs, but none the right, and he again ordered them to proceed, acd pulled out bis baton. Ihey struck up the first line of •' Mary had a little lamb," and wound up with " r lhe Battle-cry of Freedom." He greeted them with " Well done, boys ; wtll done, 1 couldn't do it better myself." He succeeded in getting a fine song out of them, to which he wielded tbe baton in a manner which would do justice to Sir Michael Costa. The audience showed their appreciation by frequent applause. ! The solo " In Her Little Bed we Laid Her " was done full justice to I by Miss Connolly, who was followed by Master Demuth reciting " I'm i Only a Boy " first rate. Miss Lucy Quinn lendered a piano solo, j " St. Patrick's Day," in a manner that wen for her general applause. I " The Orphan Boy," by Misses Demuth and Connolly, was next given, I and they received well earned applause. The next item produced was the drama " King Alfred," in which masUis H. Louis, £ kis. and } Connolly, aud Miss T£. GBffaney tcok part. The well-known cake ; episode of the King's life was splendidly enacted. All acquitted \ themselves well, especially Miss E. Gaffaney. " The Chiming I Bells" (duet), by Misses Connolly, elicited great applause, which ! gave place to the dialogue. " The Coffie was not strong," by Master 1 J. Connolly aud Miss K. Lavtry, who jerfirmed toeir parts creditably. Mips Popplewel), in her recitation " Deeds, not Woids," was I very clever, and was followed by Mis-s B. Connullj singing " The i Swiss Toy Girl." febe was dregfed foi the occasion, and the manner in ' which she gave the song fairly brought down the house, her voice was ' very sweet indeed, and ail present were delighted with her, more bo ! as she ia only about six years old. lhe dialogue "1 ne Gossips "by ' Misses Dimuth, Murphy, M. Connolly, il A. Connolly, was very , laughter-making, and all toik their parts honourably. After the j rendering of " I Wish you all Goud Health," by all thi girls, Miss 1 Lucy Quinn appeared before the audience, She said she had been deputed by her teacbeis and companions to ibankthetn for their I attendance and patient hearing, and concluded by wishiDg all 1 " A Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year." The singing of the National Anthem brought the jeiforuaance to a close. Miss GaflUney accompanied the singing, which she did in good style. A word of praise to tbe sisters ot St. Jos-eph must not be omitted. The children during the enteitamment. proved that their teachers' hearts were with their work. v rtamly the good name they bear for teaching was not dimmish*, d by the excellent concert they produced.