ENTERTAINMENT AT QUEENSTOWN

New Zealand Tablet, 13 September 1917, Page 33

ENTERTAINMENT AT QUEENSTOWN

A charming entertainment was given by the pupils of the Dominican Nuns' School, Queenstown, on the evening of Wednesday, August 29. We are indebted to the Wakatip Mail for the following report of the event:—The Dominican Nuns have every reason to be gratified with the result of the concert given by their pupils. Seldom if ever has such a large audience been assembled in the Town Hall as that which awaited the rise of the curtain on the occasion in question. Indeed, the. building ; was uncomfortably full. The opening number was a boys' chorus entitled "Our Boys," which was popular. The little Kindergarteners then introduced their performance, and a charming one-it was. 'Twould be an audience with a heart of stone that would not give evidence of being stirred to enthusiasm by the efforts of a band of such dainty, fascinating wee mites as warbled their little song' with all the sweet unconsciousness of babyhood. Misses K .Murchison and Nellie Kennedy engaged attention with- the wellknown pianoforte duet, "Qui Vive" (Ganz), in which they showed that their musical studies are being pursued to advantage. A recitation entitled "Joey Joyce," was then given with very good effect by Master Tommy Mcßride. \ : .\ i 'The <1 Drummers," an * action t- song ? by the alii; boys of the school, was an attractive and amusing stem, xu6 dialogue which followed was ■very, creditable indeed to the two little -lads who took part in it,

Crawford Mcßride and Willie Koch. -They-;had-an immense amount of matter to remember and they thoroughly entered into the spirit of the piece*-- Again Miss Monica Mcßride added to her reputation :as a soloist of much promise. She appeared twice during the evening, and, needless to remark,, both her songs were received with very marked approval. There was unanimity of opinion in regard to the club-swinging by the elder boys, this being voted one of the most popular items on the programme. -A' sturdy quartet of, Mr, J. C. Mcßride's boys Eric, <■ Ronnie* Crawford, ami Tommy,—gave a most meritorious i rendering of "A Boy's Best Friend is His Mother." The remaining instrumental items ) were two •> pianoforte duets. One of these, vor rather r the bracketed numbers, Grande : Valse ■ f Brillante" (Hunten) and -."Galop Brillante" j (Behr) : were cleverly played by Misses McCarthy and M. Collins. The other duettists were Misses Lee and McCarthy, whose performance of a couple of, Greig's compositions were distinctive in more respects than one. The star item on the programme was the cantata which gave r the entertainment its designation, namely, "An K Evening in Flowerland." This was divided into three parts. The Council of the Flowers, The Council Decides, and The Coronation Scene. A very appropriate prologue gave introduction to the cantata, and Miss Ethel Gavin, who was entrusted with the lines, spoke them in a distinct and convincing manner. Thereafter the music was rendered by the school children and their singing, was sweet and eminently satisfactory. ~: Miss .Alice McNeill took the part of The Recluse and Miss Mary Koch filled the role of Queen. The principal solo work was undertaken by the former. Naturally enough the chief interest centred in the coronation scene, , which was very pretty and effective. The stage decoration of trellis, interwoven with many colored flowers, made a particularly appropriate setting for the cantata, and the pretty frocking of the children with their posies of flowers gave character to its production. ~. A humorous play entitled "Mechanical Jane", was a fitting close a feast of good things. The parts in this were capably sustained by Misses Julia McLeely, R. Johnstone, and Beatrice Cronin (the title role). Misses , Lee and "McCarthy earned the sincere appreciation of the performers by the sympathetic support, they rendered in their accompanying work. At the interval Mr. Gavin, on behalf of the nuns, returned thanks to the large audience for their attendance. . The Queenstown Brass Band played a short programme .of airs outside the hall prior to the commencement of the concert. .