ST. JOSEPH'S CONVENT SCHOOL CONCERT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 14, 2 January 1891, Page 31

ST. JOSEPH'S CONVENT SCHOOL CONCERT.

( From an occasional correspondent.) Tn , .„ , x . . Temuka, December 18. 1890. came oi ni?h° Ce i r L g K V n D by ChMl&a atteQdiQ * ** above schoo: came off on the 16th December (Anniversary Day), and was as 1 progncsLcated an unqualified success. The day had been extremely taceof dd ° ot h w ! t 5 8ta ° dlD g th «. f^ that nearly everybody took advan 3°'^ hhollyd *y f ° r Panicking purposes, etc , and naturally felt somewhat weary m the evening, but few mused the chance of enjoying the treat »h ic b was in store for those who patronised the concert. Long before the time fixed for opening the doors a large crowd had 5? h? 'l f. ?F n eotrance - and wfa ea the curtain rose every foot of the hall was taken up. Even in the plages were located chairs ibis waa by far the largest audience that ever witnessed a perfnrmance m this hall, and besides this there was a goo 1 number outside who could not avail themselves of the treat enjoyed by those within. Next year, without doubt, the drillshed will have to be procured and indeed, it is a pity this step was not taken on the present occasion' ihere were people present from Geraldine, Orari, Winchester Wai' v\ *"rytown, and all intervening districts— such is the popularity which these concerts enjoy. It was rather flattering to the Sisters to see persons present who scarcely ever condescend to visit amusenentSa Ihe entertainment was opened by a prologue, which Miss M. wareing Bpoke in her usual pleasing war. Miss Quinn followed with Juiea ide bivrai s somewhat beautiful composition "Balmoral" to which the young lady did full justice, being deservedly applauded. The next item was one which those who have been in Dreamland amongst the tainea can fully realise. It was the chorus "The Dear Little Shamrock, in which a stageful of children took part, the girls wearing their usual white dresses, with a bouquet of flowers in their hands. Judging from the excellent order kept by the children one weald imagine the whole was a panorama worked by invisible machinery. The singing, too, was very sweet, and a marked improvement on last year. The dialogue, " The Months," was spoken in a taking man»er. In this Misses Gutbrie, Daly, M. Gaffaney G t lii°t ' Archer > * nd Masters M. Brosnao, J. Cunnard, M. Melvin J. Dlaherty, W. Polaschek, T. Cunnard, F. Scancell took part It is scarcely right to single out anyone in this, but the " baby " Guthrie might be mentioned, as she seemed quite at home and spoke very naturally. The Sisters must have spared no pains to prepare ooe so young for such a task. The next item was by no means the least on tDe programme. It was the song, " Troubadour," which Master roiascbek rendered in splendid voice, and received an encore This youthful performer is only nine years old, and his past attempts at singing augur a bright future. This put the audieoce in a good humour for receiving the drama, " Mrs. Willis's Will." The cast was as follows :--Mrs. Dwindel (fashionable lady from London), Miss L. Qmnn ; Lady Spindle (fashionable lady from London), Miss ±$. Connolly ; Mrs. Robinson (executrix to Mrs. Willis's will). Miss M. yuinn ; Rachel (assistant housekeeper), Miss E. Brosnan ; Jenny inITV"^ 11 ! 01 MIBB , M - DD ' VlB - Thlß was a very appreciative item, and the whole was played in an excellent manner. Without dome wrong to anyone. ,he palm must be freely given to Miss Davis, whf though yet tender in age, possesses unbounded dramatic capacity' Something good may yet be expected from this young lady. Sac spoke and acted in a rirs'-ela-s manner. From this drama could be 'earned the extent to wh.ch people will humiliate themselves lor the sake of gold. According to tre stipulations of the will ihe two fashionable ladies had to set aside their gorgeous a tire, and adorn themselves with the somewhat lowiy dress o the peasant. This they do, after much bombastic talk, and shortly fn!fii a , PP h Pea / rBSCdr BSCd 8S BUch| the ap P arel bem * ver y appropriate. To ontL'ni h? Part ,° f the ,. Wll1 ' lbe y°^g Udies show their ability on the • light fantsitictoe," the "step" being much appreciated by the audience. The whole concludes with Jenny (the farm servant) ll UU h L , mg f°M t0^ c ,, a bl °° d relatlon > and she becDmes possessed of the whole of Mrs Will, 8 ' 8 estate, and thus Jenny is repaid for her kindness to her little brother Peter, and the fashionable ladies for their ••ff. wr i 1 ? 6 ; 611 Ber^ ed - The neit item was a v ° cai du «' Rftnl/' S lleßate Growing, 1 ' by MissOGrady aad Master h \i r lended nicely ' and the y were loudly applauded. Mvi Connolly followed with » The Nightingale's Trill " for which she received a round of applause. The dialogue '• The Fairies was equally well spoken as the first, and the dresses worn by the fairies were rich. In this Misses A. Wareing, K. Connel M Wareing, A. Archer, E. Dalton, E. Barrett, M. Guthrie and B. Bros-" nan took part Master Lavery was vociferously applauded for his singing «Ha Was a Careful Man." This is a very com.cal song" aad the performer gave it with much spirit, keeping the audience in roars of laughter. The sodr "The French Flower Girls " (in character was given as sweetly as could be wished for by Misses E Davis B Brosnan, M Melvin, W. Melv.n, E. Dalton, J. Williams, E. Daly L Archer and M Story .Miss il. Wareing scored a point by reci ing ir\ XK n g a n d , h u Chlld< Whicb was certainly a pleasing itetn! Miss B. Connolly followed with " I Cannot Sing the Old Songs, I ' which she pave in a feeling manner. A short dialogue entitled •• Inquisitive Jack, by Miss and Master Archer (two small children, the latter particularly so) was well received, Miss OGrady next sang lbe lale that s Crowned with Shamrocks," This she did in a very sweet voice, and combined with the music was poetry This should be encouraged. What has gained fame for Santley i 6i 6 the fact that tKMsa singing poet. Tais brought us to the canUta, " The ChristvW t ™ c P rmci P al characters in this were sustained by 2 ♦ T i' r o QQD (Saata ClaUß )' MIBB E - Dilton (Winnie Worrell) Jj!?^ W Polaschek (Willie Brown), and M,ss J. William. (Se ,>»?•• \mv, W^ U 1 b " ng back t0 the memor y of m a Q y how in the r childhood they used to pray well and be so good for weeks before Clans' day, so that he would fill their stocking .. T C h n r n BC '. Were Well HUnjr - The Bolos " Tha Cnirnney Top," and The Dolly weroeung by Master Tolaschek and Miss D. Flahertv .cry email gl rl resjieotivuly.; Ihe chorus " Our Jack s Come llJc

?£i J: y I T ''J! roa % ht the firßt P art to a cl ow- The second wh£ T£°nf ft Miß ?, Gatn »c recU'Qg "An Infantine Speech," which she did to the satisfaction of the audience. The Misses (iaiiin wWcI B S?is7h Vh° Cpiaa ° aD V iolin >. " p»*«»p »*«» Loui«e Lancers," 7npM. Th« w Ud y^ 9^ The Mi99e9 Connolly followed with the duet The Wind and the Harp," which was well appreciated, and were succeeded by the dialogue "The Choice," which was well spoken by Mi«es Fleming E. Dalton, M. Story, A. Archer, J. Horgan, Masters J and F. Scanuell, G. Demuth, F. Wareing, and 6. SpUline. Ine next item was a treat ; it was the recitation " Mrs Jones's Musical rarty, into which Master tt. Gjldsion 3 threw muoh life. Master J Scannell (a small boy little over nine years) put the audience ioto nts of laughter with hia song " Mr. Beilly"; this undoubtedly was not one of the least items of tbe evening. In ihe drama which followed, uutle Fickle, the characters were taken as follows :— Uncle, SL? 'r M S? J - ,V rilllam8: Farmer - Maßter p - Oaffdney; Pedler Master J Scannell ; schoolmaster, Master J. Dunn. The whole performed the parts allotted them in a first-rata manner. Miss N. inS f ( Vf in A 8n , d M . i , 98e8 Qainn <P iaQo > did fall J UBtice their rendition of Scotch Airs." Miss Fitzgerald should make an excellent player of the violin. The dialogue "Love Gold," by Masters B. Goldstone and B. Spillane, was followed by Miss Connolly, singing Juanita, which secured an encore. Master Polaschek was as sacoessfalintbe song "Little Brown Jug," as in his former one. The dialogue " Family Qaarrell," by Miss Barrett and Master R. Uoldstone caused much merriment, which was extremely good. •• M p V ? ry D aent the • udieQ ce iato hysterics with the NQ g "a^Si* Ryß..R yB ..^ Una Way Mare '" and waa aPP^aded. Th 9 chorui wood ijye brought the programme to the National Anthem. Miss (Juinn accompanied the singers, on the piano, with the exception of the Cantata, which task Miss M. Quinn performed, adding much

, mw% The concert . with regard to both music and speech, was a marked improvement on the former one, whicb substantives the opinion I gaye st the conclusion of my report of tbe last. The entertainment must increase in excellence year by year, as most of the children were ZJ a £ i ' * n ? Wlll at Bcho ° 1 for BOtne tima to come. The whole passed off without a hitch, and from beginning to end it was one of prolonged applause. The audience was evidently extremely well satis?hi .the efforts of the band of youthful performers. Indeed, tbey acquitted themselves in a way which reasonably made their H I? £ Of tbem ' and in * Tei 7 aabstantial manner strenethened «/L 878 7 reputation the Bist«rs ;enjoy in being able to mould the ZJpL IK yy ° aag> and they weli m *y be congratulated upon the success which crowned their efforts on tbe present occasion.