KERRYTOWN CONVENT SCHOOL CONCERT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 15, 9 January 1891, Page 15

KERRYTOWN CONVENT SCHOOL CONCERT.

(From an occasional Correspondent.; Temuka, January 2, 1891. The annual concert given by the pnpils attending St. Joseph's Convent School, came off on Friday, 19th December, and in excellence snrpassed even the most sanguine expectations. The stage fur the occasion was well got up, end the room was filled to excess The concert commenced precisely at 8 o'clock, and lasted till just 11. Miss I izz'e Hcare opened with an overture entitled " Husarrenritt " (Spindler), which t>he executed in a very pleasing and aitistic manner ; " God d* fend New Zeal- nd," as a song and chi rus, by tne pnpils, tollowirg, which was an excep iona ly pleasing item, and it was evident that no pains were spared in the prep»ration of the children for the piece. Master D." Hoare fairly entered into the spirit of the recitation, " Boas' Right," which took well and created much amusement. The bolo, "Kitty McGee," was very nicely rendered by Miss M. Biosnan, and was succeed d by the drama, "My aunt'g heire'S," the caste being sb follows : — Mrs. Smith, Miss Hcare ; her seven daughter- — Anna Maria, Mis* K. Cougblan ; Jemima, Miss M. Cougbhn ; Sophia, Miss E. Murphy ; Matilda. Miss B. Louney ; Arabella, Mips D Brosnan ; Clementina, Miss H Hoare; Jane, Miss M. Hoare ; Mrs. Betsy Brown (poor relation), Miss Mary Hoare ; Mrs. Alexander de d urtney Smith, rich auL,t). Mis* D Hoare ; Sippitts (servant to Mrs. Smith), Miss Barry. Much interest was evinced in this item, which was enacted in a manner which would have done justice to any amateur performance. The whole of the actors acquitted tbemelves in a nrst-cla«8 style, and with great credit to their teacher. Mies Julia Hoare next sang " Apothecary Doctor," for which she was loudly applauded. Master S. Coughlan's recitatun " The Old Man in the Wood," was listened to very attentively. The Koj al Irish Quadrilles "(piano solo), wore given in a mot creditable style by a youthful performer, Mi-s Julia Bcannell, for which ehe was loudly applauded. Miss Nora O'Diiscoll was very succest-ful with her song, " 1 he Old Log Cabin in i he Line," and was followed by Master M. C.>ughlan, who rendered the everpopular reci'ation " Bingen on the Rhine," which was well received. The 6ong '' Chnstm 18 Chimes " was certainly not the least item on the programme, for tne rendition of which MiB9es M. D. and L. Hoare, and CoughUn received a wl'-dewrvei proloasjed applaisa The playing of Master Dei is and Miss Maggie H >are in the piano. duet " Osboroe Quadrilles " was delightful, which v» as followed by the song " Pickles are We," in which Mißses Day, Coujhlan, Swanev, Hoare, and O'O nnell displayed consid. rable amount of talent. The cantata '• The Fairies," by the pupils was throughout san^r in a manner which displayed careful training, and brought ihe entertainment to the last item on the fiist part of the programme, which was th> dialogue "The Irisn Schoolmaster,' in which Masters Connell, P. Bcanneli, J. O'Dnscoll, J. Lyons, and D Scannell cause! much laughter. Tbe second rart was opened by the pupils singing ihe chorus "Let Erin Remember," which was a very interesting item, Miss Cougblan following with a pLmo solo, " Knights of St Patrick," tbe execution of which reflected great credit on ihe young lady. The duet •' Mui-icand Her Bister song," was dealt with in a mest able style by Mis c* M. D. and M. Hoarp and Coughlan, and whose voices blended together in a very impressive manner. Masters Cousrhlan, Fleming, and Driscoll, and Misses O'Drii-coll, O'Connell, and Cougblan spoke the dialogue "Ignorance is Bliss" in a di tinct and able way, and Mies Hoare "made a hit" in the singing of the song " Barney O'flea," for which she was loudly app auied. The piano duet, " Echoes from the Green Isle " was rendered by Misses J. Scannell and J. Coughlan in an admirable manner. The dinlo°ue "The Hen-peckei Husband," which vividly poun rays the "'tendernePß"of the ladies when they have the good fortune of getting a hnsb»nd nHn lirr not a " Roman nose." caused much amusement, and was done justice to by Miss M. Brosnahan, and Masters J. Scan ne 1, D. Scannell, and J. O'Diiscoll. Master P. Swaney's song " Robinson Crusoe," which was very well rendered, pave place to the drama " Trie Omnibus." The characters wpre • — Mr. Ledger, Master Richard Hoare; Miss Julia Ledger, Miss L Hoare, Pat Maloney, Master H. Hrosnahan ; Master Tom Dobbs. Master f. Fleming ; Mr. Dobbs, Master M. Coughlan ; Mrs. Dubbs, Miss B. Coughlan ; 'issen Dampers, Misses K. and M. Coughlan ; Famer'n Bo , Maser Kelly. Tbe actors in this acquitted themselves as creditably as those i > the foimer drama. Tbe patbet c t-ong " Love Not," was given by Miss Hoare and Miss Debbie in splendid voice and with due appreciation to music. Master Foley Bent the audience into hysterics with his recitation " Dr. Von de Blousterberg," to which he imparted a fair portion of humour. Misb Coughlan by the Binging of " We'd Better Bide a Wee," proved that she ib a vocalist of no mean etanding. Au

interesting item of the evening wm the recitation " Death of King Conor MacNessa," by Muster P. K»ane. Master P. X aue sustained in ibis piece the reputation he c jo»ed for th« past six years as an elocutionist. He has a really go >d voice, and, no doubt, if he continues liis studies he will in time be a brilliant or*t<>r. The duet " Conve it Bells," was at least one of tbi most pHasiag item-* of 'he evening, f r 'he rendition of which Misses Hoare ani Cough'an nccived a round of applause. fne dialogue " Wiutel aQe ieral Sevant," by Misses Cougnlan, Perry, O'Keefe, L H'>are, Kvie (Joughla 1. and v. Hoare, which provoked m tea laughter, was followed by ■' Avid Lang Syae," wnch termiua r ed the bwt concert ever held in Kern town. Aliis L. Hoare, the orgnstof 8 . Mary's, Pleasant Pom', presided at tne pian >, aacl adi-.d m a gre*t measure to the success of the entertainment by her artistic manipulation of the instrument.

It would be hard to overpraise the excellence of this entertainment. It was, indeed, by far the best juvenile production I have ever seen. In fact, it would have been a credit to grown-up amateurs. At these kinds of concerts there are two or three who do excep ionally well, but on this occasion the entertainment was conspicuous for evenneßS. The performers, from the largest to the smallest, were very goo 1, and there is no doubt much pains must have been taken to get the children up to such a state of perfection. They acquitted them* selves in a manner which reflected unmeasured praise to their teachers, and the Sisters have every reason for being proud of their pupils. Many of the children have been at bcqool for six years, and this, combined with the very high reputation this convent enjoys for training, will give an idea of what the concert was like. The attire worn bj the actors was as good as is seen en any amateur stage. Tbe singing was a great feature, and a marked improvement on previous years. The musical portion of the concert was really delightful, and Kerrytown, for its size, will more than compare with any other place bo far as musicians are concerned. There is scarcely a child in the whole of Kerrytown who is not able to play the piano, aud play well, too. None ol th' s-> present regretted that th y had come, as wan plainly noticeable from the hearty mannet in which they applauded he items from beginning to end. Though it was late, no oue seemed weary. Iv concluding my remarks, I must say that at the next concert something very gusd may be expected, as mostly all those who who took part this time will do to in the next.