H.M.S. ' PHOEBE'S ' ENTERTAINERS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4, 26 January 1905, Page 20

H.M.S. ' PHOEBE'S ' ENTERTAINERS

On Monday evening, by_kind permission of the officer commanding, an enter tainmeifi! was given in His Majesty's Thea-tre by the clever theatrical troupe of H.M.S. ' Phoebe,' now at Port Chalmers. The entertainment was in aid of the repairs fund of St. Joseph's girls' school and was one of the most successful given in Dunedvn for a long time. Despite the shortness of the notice there was a crowded house, and the interest of the audiqnee was maintained unabated till close on eleven o'clock. The novelty and excellence of tjhe programme were greatly appreciated, ana encores were fehe rule throughout. The performance opened with a fine tableau by the bluejackets. Songs, mostly on naval and military smbjecls, were finely rendered by Mr. Shervell, Mr. Mason, Mr. • Wilhelmson, and bluejacket Loohrane. Bluejaciket Mayall contributed two line cornet solas, amid a \iolin solo was rendered in finished style by Mr. McDonnell. A splendid exhibition of dubswinging was given by Mr. Whitelow. Physical drill, cutlass drill, and bayonet exercises by llue)acket.s were smartly dome anld proved very acceptable, and a boxing display by bluejackets Moore anji Hawkins created much amusement. Mr. T. Ilussey contributed a song (encored). He and Miss M. Drumm (accompanist) were the Only j>ers,ons outside the troupe that took part in the entertainment. Bluejacket Lochrane contributed the lion's share of the evening's fun. He did some sa/perb fooling and his various comi<sal items supplied the audience with plenty of innocent merriment, wTiich they appreciated to the extent of a triple encore. The entertainment closed witih a laughable sketch ' Fun in a photograph studio,' in which the leading role was* played by the irrepressible bluejacket Lochrane. Thanks were returned to officers, the performers, and the audience by Mr. T. Hiussey ill the course of an effective speech, and hearty cheers were given to the troupe of 11. M.5. ' Phoebe ' and Captain Robinson.