Te Aroha

New Zealand Tablet, 23 November 1911, Page 2349

Te Aroha

(From an occasional correspondent.) The annual concert by the pupils of the Convent high school on October 25 was a brilliant success. The good Sisters of the convent are to be very cordially congratulated (says the Te Aroha Mail). Not only the music (which is one of the convent's specialties), but the singing, dancing, and acting were worthy of hopest praise. All the participants down to the smallest had evidently caught the contagion of the spirit that impels, and some of the enthusiasm that characterises the teachers was subtly transferred to the taught. A special feature of the representation was the excellence of the costumes—whether Japanese, Highland, or Slumberland. The Highland dresses were specially admired and praise was freely bestowed upon the whole. The stage was prettily decorated, and the hall never looked better. The musical portion of the programme included many numbers that were highly meritorious, and one of outstanding quality, the piano duo, Schubert's March No. 2.' by the Misses O'Donnell, McGruer, Boy, and Barnard, the chidlreri's chorus, The harp that once,' the juvenile 'Arcadian lullaby ' and ' Japloo babies,' and the small drummer boys' performance were all surprisingly good. The ' Smiling geisha ' and the Highland reel by the senior pupils were entirely admirable and gave perfect enjoyment to the audience, which was lavish in its ap-

plause. Another item that well deserves special mention was the violin solo by Miss Mary McCarthy. The convent orchestra played a spirited overture, and at the opening of the second part gave a pleasing rendition of selections from Gounod’s ‘ Faust.’ The musical programme was as follows:—Overture, ‘ March,’ Misses McGruer (2), O’Donnell, McCarthy, Stanley, Bovett, Grice, and Master J. Patterson; chorus, ‘The harp that once,’ pupils; trio (two pianos), ‘ Les trois consines,’ Misses Johnson, McGlashan, Minogue, Maxwell, Newsham, and Lovegrove; song, ‘Arcadian lullaby,’ Miss A. McGruer and junior pupils; piano duo, ‘March No. 2’ (Schubert), Misses O’Donnell, Roy, McGruer, and Bamaid; violin solo, ‘ Kuyawick,’ Ide; ‘Mazourka,’ Miss McCarthy; song, ‘ Japloo baby,’ pupils; trio (two pianos), ‘ Valse No. 2’ (Streaborg), Misses Kessing, McDonald, Baine, Smith, Johnson, and Robinson ; song, ‘ The smiling geisha,’ pupils; song, ‘ The drummer boys,’ pupils; Highland reel. The accompaniments were played by the Misses Roy, O’Donnell, McGruer, and Charlton, and the work was all tastefully done. The drama ‘Kathleen, or the Cost of a Promise,’ was played with much sprightliness. Miss O’Donnell made a great success of the part of Kathleen. Every point was made the most of. Miss I. McCarthy was satisfactory as the mother, and Miss M. McGruer did justice to the author’s conception of the wicked and subsequently chastened aunt. The Misses Fitzgerald and Grice were successful as the frivolous nieces of the rich lady, and Master Peter Greahey was a stolid and amusing magistrate. But the broad splash of color in the piece was supplied by Miss Kathleen Hogan, who gave a very clever impersonation of ‘ Granny Gilligan. Little Olive Dalton, as a ‘ niggah gal ’ was also diverting, and a neat bit of action was contributed by Miss A. McGruer as the French nurse. Other minor parts were filled by Misses M. Patterson and Stanley. Taken all round, the play was a very meritorious piece of work.

By the latest London mail the Sisters of Mercy, Te Aroha, . received the results of the examination in the Art of Teaching and Matriculation in connection with Trinity College, London, held in July last. Miss Maud McGruer and Miss May O’Donnell, the two candidates presented in these subjects, were successful. The former, having recently passed the practical division, now holds the diploma of Associate of T.C.L.