ENTERTAINMENT AT TEMUKA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue XXV, 24 December 1897, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENT AT TEMUKA.

(From an ocoasional correspondent.)

December 18, 1897 An event which is always looked forward to with considerable expectation by non-Catholics as well as Catholics, is the annual entertainment by the pupils attending the school conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph, which came off on Thursday evening 1 , the hall being crowded despite the weather. An apology was received from Mr. F. R. Flatman, M.H.R., who stated he would ask someone of his family to represent him, and enclosed a donation of one guinea towards the concert fund. One was also received from Mr. A. E. G. Rhodes, who enclosed half-a-guinea. Both these gentlemen contributed five guineas to the convent building fund. Nearly all the principal non-Catholics of the district were present, as well as persons from long distances. The enter taiument was opened precisely at eight o'clock with a trio (fourpianos), " Norway," by Misses Gaffaney (2), Wareing (3), Coira, Bourke, Brosnan, Twomey, O'Donohue, Beri, and Ferguson. I must pronounce this piece, as well as all the others, as very brilliantly and correctly rendered. Not a fault could be noticed, which speaks volumes for the Sister in charge of the musical department of the school. Indeed, it is admitted that she has no rival in the district (including visiting teachers) in bringing pupils on in music lessons. The girls sang the chorus '• The tui bird " very sweetly, and the dialogue " The trades,' 1 was given with more than ordinary dramatic verve by Masters Carr. Flynn, Albert, Elkis, Creedy, Roulston, Daley, Rooney, O'Shea, Tangney, Knight, and Brosnan. Master Spillane (in character) rendered the song, '• Firemen in the amateur brigade " with dramatic force, the '" vile wink" and '"vulgar" expression at times of the " fireman " seeming " too much " for some. The next item, " Bluebells of Scotland" (in costume), elicited great applause. Master Chris Twomey and Miss Eily Twomey did full justice to it, and aKo danced a highland reel with grace, for which they were trained by Mrs. D. Henry, a non-Catholic lady. The drill march and sing (with dolls) by Misses Daly, Story, Collins. Beri, Bourke, Connolly (2), Scannell (:5), Lavery. O'Donoliue, Albert, Leary, Wareing. and Twomey, showed careful training. Miss Bourke sang '' The fisher lass " and was applauded. The boys were successful with the chorus. '• Ching-a-ring-a-ring-ncket," while a duet arranged for firot and second piano by Misses Twomey. Barrett, Bourke, Brosnean, Gaffaney (2), Wareing, and Roulston, found universal favour. Another item upon which much care must have been bestowed was a pole drill by Masters Bourke, Rooney. Angland, Clarke (2), and Twomey, and Misses Beri, Twomey, Angland, Bourke, Scannell, and Roulston, the piano accompaniment for which was played by Miss M. Storey. The next item on the programme was the operetta '• The Battle of the Books." The characters were sustained as follow : Genius of Education, Master Bourke ; Ario^to and Floriinond, Master Albert and Coiro ; Perdita, Miss Gaffaney ; Grammar, Maxtor Lavery ; Algebra, Master Rooney ; Arithmetic, Maxtor M'AuliiVe : Spelling, Master Twomey ; Literature, Master Clarke ; English History, Master W. Spillane ; United Slates History, Master Bourke ; Geography, Master C. Spillane ; Scholars, Misses O'Donohuo, Ben. Albert, Scannell, floulston, Leary, Twomey, Gaffaney. and M. Wareing ; Attendants, Misses Story, Connell, Melvin, T. \\ areirnr. Roulston, A. Wareing, Twomey, and Brosnean : Kindergarteners Misses Leary, Twomey (3), Scannell, Lavery, O'Donohue. Beri, M Roulston, M. Lavery, and G. Albert ; Pages, Masters F. and J Twomey. The dresses were excellent, and the parts were weL taken, the singing being very good indeed. The piece concluded with a befitting tableau. The second part opened with another faultlessly-executed trio (four pianos), "Silver trumpet-*," by Misses Twomey (2) Roulston, Wareing, Gaffaney (2), Bourke, Coira. Barrett. Brosnean (2), and Scannell. The boys were again successful with the chorus, "Do cabin on de Mississippi shore," as were also the girls with the tambourine march and drill, in which Misses Bourke, Wareing (2). Coira, Gaffaney (2), Connell, Albert. Story, Twomey, Brosnean. and Roulston took part. Miss M. Albert, who with a little traininir promises to be a good singer, rendered " Birdie's evening prayer " very feelingly. The drill and song, •' The Chinese umbrella," in which Misses Angland (2), Albert, Scannell, Beri. M. Wareing, L. Gaffaney, T. Wareing. A. Roulston, O'Donohue, R. Leary, M. Bourke, and E. Twomey *ook part, was given with much precision. The drama, "The Organ grinder" followed. The parts were taken as follows : — Mr. Haynes, Master Polabchek ;

Mrs. Haynes, Miss Bourke ; Patty. Miss Lavery ; Lilly, Miss Daley ; Lucy, Miss K. Twomey ; Organ Grinder, Master Spillane ; Widow Moss, Miss Albert ; Prisey, Miss E. Twomey. The piece was gone through without a hitch, and created at times roars of laughter. Another musical treat was a trio (four pianos),

" D'Albert Lancer Quadrilles,'" by Misses Wareing (2), Twoniey (2), Roulston, (2), Coira, Ferguson, Beri, Scannell, Brosnean, and T. Wareing. Master Polaschok — who for many years has been a star at these entertainments, but unfortunately at present is undei'going the customary transitory change of voice — sang (in jockey costume") ■• Little Tommy Topweight," in such a manner as to elicit a vociferous encore. Misses Coira, Twomey, Roulston, G-affaney, Bourke, Wareing, Story, Albert, Brosnean, Melvin, and Connell executed the drill and song " The sweeping broom brigade " very cleverly, and Master Spillane followed with the song (in character) •' Bother the men." A dialogue entitled " The Troublesome Servant followed, and was played with marked cleverness > Master C. Twom°y as the negro servant was faultless, while Master W. Spillane, as his employer, also took his part well. The chorus,

" Home is the best," oy the girls, brought the programme to the last item, the National Anthem. The accompaniments were played by Miss Quinn in her tasty and brilliant style, and aided much to the success of the singing. Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the labours of the Sisters of St. Joseph. This year they lost nearly all their advanced performers, and to this disadvantage must be added the fact that a sickness amongst the children — and even some of the teachers — was general. Yet notwithstanding all these drawbacks they placed before the public one of the best all-round entertainments they have ever held, and they have every reason to feel nattered. They have very promising performers amongst the children who are growing up, and next year something extra good may be looked forward to.