ENTERTAINMENT AT INVERCARGILL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 12, 21 July 1893, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENT AT INVERCARGILL.

On Friday the 14th instant an entortaintn^n* wag given in the Convent Bchool Hall by the members of St Muy's cnoir. The object of the entertainment was ot a twot,,U character— in the first place, a large supply of first-class music. Masses and hymns, had been obtained for the use of the choir, so as to place it on an equal footing with the other chief choirs of the Co'ony, and as there was still a Boiall amount remaining unpaid, i. w.s thongbt advisable to give an entertainment and thertby enable the choir to liquidate the debt, and secondly to give the junior members of the choir an opportunity of makiDg their dchut to an Invircargili audience, a laudable object itself, and for the purpose no better selection could have been made than tbe Convent Hall. It is pleasing to remark that, notwithstanding the inclemency of the we-uher, tin hall was crowded to exceds by A fashionable and etithumas'ic audience, and that fioancially and otherwise the entertainment was an immense success. Punctually to the hour arm. ur ccd the stage was occupied by the members of the choir, who opened the programme with the glee ! " When twilight dews." This was rendered in a first-class style, the Voices harmonising beautifully, not one trjing to outdo the other, as ia a noticeable fact at entertainments in otLer places than Invercar- i gill. Mr Ovunden saDg "My pretty Jane "in such an artibtic manner that be had to respond to an uproarious encore. Mi Ovenden has a woDderf ul tenor voicp, ca p*bie of filling the largest ball, and he know 9 how to use it to the best advantage. Miss K. Kirwan is the coming soprano of Southland. There is no gambaying tbe fact trat her singing of " Dear heart " was only another step upward in the ladder of fame. Bhe, as usual, had to respond to an enthusiastic encore. Uufortunately, Mr Paecoe had contracted a chill on the evening of the entertainment and was not in as food voice as usual ; nevertheless his rendering of the " Knight's resohe " was given in finished style, ! The violin solo " Erin's wreath," by Master J. McGrath, was a i^reat Ba^cess. He was cool and collected, and showed at once 'hat he knew what be was about. He undoubtedly Will be quite i.n acquisition to the. musical circles of lavercargill. It is nceiilees to say that Mr T. J. Anthony's wug, " The man who br^ke the ba^k at Mr nte O*r!o," wa9 a succtss. Ho has been so long before tbe pubic, and ' bo successfully too, that hie name on any programme is sufD:ier.t

atUactiun to fill any of the public halls of Southland. In response to the encore he made a new departure and sang " My heart is away Ia Ireland," which was loudly applauded. The Misses Btanton and Morton sang the duet "Hark the goat bells ringing" in an acceptable manner, and were rewarded with a round of applause. Mr K. Reid, whose singing of " The man-o'-war " was raptaously applauded, did not respond tn the encore. This youth has a good baritone voice, and although he displayed a httie uttivououe&a al first it soon wore away, and for a first appearance was a brilliant euccess. Miss Bradley's recitaiioa, " The rescue of St Patrick," bronght the first part of the programme to a close. She was loudly applauded, and in response to an encore recited " Make my coffee strong," which created roars of laughter, proving, if necessary, ttut Mies Bradley is a fiaished elocu ioniat. After an interval of five minutes the second part opened with a comic burlesque duet, " The Happy Policeman," by Miss K. Kirwan and Mr T. J. Anthony. It was a great success, the last verse having to bs repeated ia demand to the usual encore. Mr Ovenden waß again very successful in his singing of " Anchored." Mrs Mnwen made her first appearance in the school hall, although not btr first in Invercargill, and let us hope to hear her soon and ofttn, as Bhe possesses a vtice both sweet and finished. She secured a most emphatic recall for her singing of " Cherry Ripe " and recponded with " Coming through the rye," which was aleo a most acceptable item. Mr A. Pascoe sang " First love " fairly well. Miaa Morton recived a flattering reception for his rendering of " Isle of beauty, fare thee well," and in response to an encore bowed her ackaowled ; mentß. Mr H. E. Anthony was evidently suffering from the effecta of a cold, as he has been heard to greater advantage ; still, his singing of " The Captain's child " was loudly applauded. It iB not often we enjoyed such a treat as that affjrded by Mr R. Wil s ia his cornet solo, "Forget me not." This was one of the gema of the evening, and merited the applause— loud and continued. Hia triple-tonguing was perfect. He is undoubtedly a firßt-class cornet-player. Mr T. J. Anthony again scored with " He knew it," his encore song being " The man %ho wrote " Ta-ra-ra-boom-der-e," causing roars, which culminated in shrieks of laughter when he was run off the stage by one of the "Royal Irish Constabulary." The long and varied programme wm brought to a successful finish by the company's singing of the par song " Evening." More than a word of praise ia due to Miss Maggie Roche for her manipulation of the piano, she having ably presided at the instrument throughout the tvening.and helped in her own qniet bat snecesiful way in making the entertainment from firat to last an unqualified success.