St. Philomena’s College, South Dunedin

New Zealand Tablet, 22 December 1910, Page 2101

St. Philomena’s College, South Dunedin

The close of the year's work at St. Philomena's College, South Dunedin, is always made memorable by the excellence of the entertainment which the students present. On Wednesday evening of last week St. Patrick's School Hall was filled by a large and appreciative audience. Rev. Father O'Malley presided, and Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., and Rev. Fathers O'Neill and Tobin were also present. The stage was charmingly decorated with aesthetic drapings and beautiful plants. The overture was played by Misses O'Malley, Lemon, Kaveney, Hall, Maggie Monaghan, and Brown, and the students gave a spirited opening chorus. The college orchestra always meets with a hearty reception, and Misses Kaveney, Anstis, O'Malley, Molly Monaghan, and Gray (Ist violins), J. Lemon (guitar), Maggie Monaghan ('cello), Lemon (mandolin and piano), were warmly applauded for their exquisitely executed selection. An action song by the juniors proved a diverting item. The operetta which filled the greater part of the programme was a new musical version of a story that has charmed the childhood of many generationsthe evergreen legend of ' Snow-White.' The incidental music is exceedingly beautiful, and the piece gives ample scope for effective acting and tasteful grouping. The principal soloists, Misses Daisy Hall (first prize winner, Dunedin Competitions), O'Malley, Brown, and Anstis, have pleasing voices, and sang very tastefully and with considerable dramatic power. Misses Vera Marlow, Brennan, McAuley, Murphy, Nolan, Hayes, M. Dunford, Monaghan, and Moloney carried the audience into a fancied gay life in Gipsyland, and the acting and singing of Misses K. McDevitt, Carter, Curtin, T. Dunford, O'Grady, Brenda Marlow, Meade, Kerr, and Burke left nothing to be desired. The choruses of the forest children were splendid, the fresh young voices of eighty perfectly-trained blending harmoniously. The graceful deportment and stage manners of the youthful performers evidenced careful training. The operetta throughout was a most refined and clever performance, and would have done credit to artists of mature years. The pianoforte music was of a high order of merit. Misses Molly Brennan, O'Kane, Dunford, Marlow, Hargreaves, and McDowall played a duet very nicely. Another duct by six tiny maidens Misses Amy Dyer, Marie McMahon, Annie Reid, Brigie Meade, Monica Rodgers, and Eileen Curtin pleased the audience. The. diminutive size of the performers was in itself a proof of the devoted attention the Sisters of Mercy bestow on very young aspirants to musical honors. The gem of the evening was the graceful dance, ' Bellenden gavotte,' by little Misses Rosie Bradley, Molly Tylee, N. Francis, R. Carter, Mary Deegan, Sylvia Daniel, O'Kane, and Harrison, which, given towards the end, will long linger in the minds of those present. A fine pianoforte trio by Misses Walsh, I. Dawson, Jones, Doris Anstis, McDevitt, Curtin, Naughton, Carter, and Johnson, and a final chorus brought to a close an entertainment that adds to the reputation the students of St. Philomena's have already gained by a long series of successes. Rev. Father O'Malley, in a few appropriate words, complimented the students in the beautiful entertainment. He congratulated the parents on having in their midst a college where their children received a high-class education. That evening they had a further proof of the excellent training given by the Sisters of Mercy. On behalf of the nuns, he thanked the audience for their attend' ance.