CONCERT AT KERRYTOWN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 38, 10 January 1890, Page 29

CONCERT AT KERRYTOWN.

(Prom an occasional Correspondent.)

Temuka, December 28, 1889. THB annuil concert given by the pupils attending St. Joseph's Convem School at Kerry town, was the most successful yet held. I was completely carried away by last year's excellent entertainment, but the oue given 00 the 19th inst. wrested the palm from allthi previous ones. The large school, as on the former occasion, was much too small (or those eager to witness the treat which had been prepared for the evening. The stage was excellently arranged, and the building was well lit up. The programme, as will be observed wan long and varied, and not a bitch occurred throughout. Mr. J. M. Twomey occupied the chair, and, after some we.l-chosen remarks, for which he was applauded, Mis 9M. Hoare opened the concert with an overture. " Recollections of Scotland," which she executed in her usual able style, and for which she was loudly applauded. The singing c ass followed with the lull cbnrut>, " Tne Cows are in the C m," anil from this it. was evident thai the same attention had been pad to the children at this sch >ol as to those at the Temuka ; the singing was melodious, tbe order splendid, and the whita dresses of the children crowned all. Thedr»nu, •• The Peasant, Q i^en," showed much c»reful trainiug, nnd all epoke and acted tb>'i> pars well. The char ctere were take 1 as follows :— Virgiuia, Mss S. O'Driscoll ; her Motbei, Mss Btrrv ; The B ronss, toissL. Hoare ; Tha Stewardess, Miss E. Louny ; Village Girls, Misses O Council, O'Keefe, Coughlao, BuUivao, Mv pby, aud Biosnaban. Misses M. OoughUn and J. Hoare next rendered 'Dear Little Kobin," and were loudly applauded, as was also Master Dnis Hoare for his recitation, " Tbe Irishman," Miss Mary Broanaban was accorded an enthusiastic ovat-on for her comic song, "B.tsy Wareing, and was buccceded by the piano solo, "'The Lis r Rise of Summer," by Miss Julia Scannell— a s mawhat youihiul performer — which was given with due appreciation to music, lhe dialogue, " The doctor and bis patient," by Masters Cough. an and O Oonuell, created a considerable amount of amusement, and was well-spoken. Misses Hoare and Coughlan made" a hit " with their duet, " ThyjVoice," and were rapturously applauded. This brought the entertainment to the principal item oa the programme, tbe ever-popular drama, " Dick Whittington and bis cat." The caste was : Dick Whittington, Master M, DriscoU ; Fitewarren (a London merchant), Master P. Keane ;

Alice, (bis dnnghtrr), Him J. Ooughlan ; tea captain, Matter B. Hoare ; King and Q ieen of Barbary, Master Killy and Miss Btaok ; interpreter, Master M. Oaughlan, cook, Mist K. Fleming ; Queen Sunbeam, Miss Coughlan ; fairies, Mi*seg J. Sc-.nnell, P. Hoare, M. floare, H. Hoare. E. Fleming, B. Oeaney, A. Bothwell, A. Brocntbao, and F. Perry. All the various parts were sustained with a Talk amount of perfection, the acting and speaking throughout being good, white the wearing appirel was not tne least notiosable feature. A very enjoyable item of the entertainment was the piano and violin duet, " What are the wild waves saying f" by a brother and date (Master James and Miss Lizzie Hoare). This was really delightful* and well deserved the rxpturous eno >re which it receive*!. The full chorus, " The wearing of the green," was very successfully rendered, and was fo lowed by the piano duet, " Les Papillons," which wat faultlessly treated by Misses Ho ire and Goaghlin, and followed by another full chorus, " There is no love like Blither's," wbioh was no exception to tbe general rule. The boy's drama, " The broken wto« dow," followed, the characters being : judge, Master Hugh Bronaban, Widow Careful, Miss M. Brosnahan ; witnesses, Masters D. Hoar*, J. Stack, J. Scannell, J. Lyons, J. Driscoll, M. Naoghton, aid 0. Poley ; jurymen, Mastars P. Soaonell, M. Geany, J. Barry, M. Barry, 8. Coughlan, and D. Soaoneli. In this there wat only a ran** tition of the careful tuition displayed in the other dramas, and it did not fail to amuse the audience. Miss Nora O'Driseoll tang " Better days for dear baloved Ireland " very nicely, and was followed 07 the dialogue " Toe May Queen," the various parts being well spoken by Misses M. Hoare, J. Soannell, B. Hoare, B. Fleming, and J. Broanahan. Masters Hoarejand Geaney were 'loudly applauded for the piano duet, " Ireland," which was tbe mure creditable owing to tbe tender age of the performers. Miss Ho*re brought 'frown the bouse with her solo "La the gloaming." the applause being very hearty. Master and Miss Gaaney next spoke a mod little dialogo*, " Idle Willie," Misses M. and D. Hoare following with the duet "Very suspicions," which waa splen/iilly rendered. Tbe piano solo, '• Humours of Doo ay brook, by Miss Ooughlan, gava place to the recitation 41 Si in," by Master Keane. I must not pass this item without a remark. During the rendering of this recitation a pin could be heard fall. Master K^aoe's recitatioos at previous entertainments have been a great feiture, and 00 this occasion he displayed hit elo* cutive capacity to eve 1 a greater advantage. Mist Coughlan was agai 1 successful with her solo, " The song that reached my heart," fjr which she received loud applause. A source of great mirth wat Master Foley's recitation " Bory O' Moore'* visit to Dublin," which seemed to amuse everyone. Miss Hoare followed with " Mrs. Jones' Musical party," which she rendered in a capital manner. The drama " A slight mistake," brought .he entertaiament to the las£ Hem. The characters were: Lady Proudly, Miss Coughlan ; Sarsanet (her maid), Mis< Hoare ; Penelope (landlady of a village inn), Miss D. Hoare; Rosina (her cous.n), Miss M. Hoare; Dorothy (Penelope's faithful domestic), Mi«s L. Moore. Great life was put into the various parts by tne different performers, and indeed it would be hard to excel ♦hem. Tbe chorus •' Christmas boxes " brought the programme to a close. Mr. O'Driseoll moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Twomey for presiding, and to the children for the excellent entertainment. I must not omit to mention that Miss Hoare played tbe accompaniments on the piano, as a great deal of the success of the entertainment is due t» her excellent playing. . I feel scarcely justified in specially praising anyone whfan all did so well. However without doing injustice to anyone^ t l might men* tion that Miss "eborah Hoare' s acting wa« simply grand, and that she greatly increased the reputation which she made for h jrtielf last year. The children, without even one exception spoke their parts with remarkable cleverness, and the singing through >utLw*s firstclass. In the choruses -the voices of the children blended niojly together, and they showed a marked improvement on the last concert. The dresses worn in the dramas, too, were equal to those of last year. Kerrytown may well be compline 1 ted oa the amount of musical talent it possesses, for it would be almost impossible to find another placa of its size to equal it. Tbe children ara a credit to tbeir parents, and particularly so to their teachers, and ttte Sisters of St. Joseph are to be heartily complimented on tbe very high standard of perfection to which they on this occasion have trained their pupils.