AMUSEMENTS.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 736, 28 October 1876, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

CANTERBURY MUSIC HALL. “ Rob Roy ” was produced by Mr and Mrs Darrell last evening at the Music Hall. Ai Helen McGregor Mrs Darrell was very good, the fiery Highland woman, who is of a masculine type, being well pourtrayed. Mdlle Navaro made a very piquante Francis Cabal(listen, and both sang and acted well. She rendered the incidental music very nicely indeed, and also appeared to have a very good conception of the character, dramatically speaking. Miss Nye as Diana Vernon has not a great deal to do, but she did that well, and also rendered material assistance in the musical part of the piece. Mr Darrell’s Rob Hoy, though somewhat hard and stagy, was yet a very creditable performance. He introduced some new points into the rendering of the character, which had a very good effect. Mr Hill’s Bailie did not impress us favorably. There was a want of that breadth of humor which we have been used to see brought out so conspicuously by other representatives of the character. Mr Hill’s dialect was very good. Mr Stoneham played Rashleigh Osbaldiston carefully and well, and Mr Alexander’s Dougal was a capital performance. As Major Galbraith, Mr Cary played well, and also sang his music excellently. The other parts ; were fairly filled. The company appear again this evening. PUNCH AND JUDY AT SUNNYSIDE. On Thursday last, through the kindness of Mr B i W, Cary, of the Lydia Howards Troupe, the inmates of the Sunnyside [Asylum were amused for a short time with a Punch and Judy entertainment on a very large scale. At its conclusion Mr Cary was heartily thanked by Mr Seager for the pleasure he had given to the inmates, officers, and visitors. EAST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT. The entertainment projected for the purpose of raising funds for the fife and drum taid of the East Christchurch school was a complete snccess. Every part of the spacious building was crowded to excess, and there could not have been less than 1500 persons present, including of course a large proportion of children. The chair was occupied by Mr S. 0. Farr; the chairman of the school committee, Mr G. L. Lee, being engaged at the Synod. The entertainment comprised chemical experiments by Professor Bickerton, exhibition of photographs by the lime light, legerdemain by a well-known professor, and the shadow pantomine. These were excellently gone through and afforded intense amusement to the audience. The most interesting part of the programme, however, was the singing of a number of rounds by the children, of the school, numbering some 500, under the direction of Mr H. Hill. These were admirably rendered, with great precision of time, and a careful attention to piano and forte effects, which showed marks of careful training. Both Mr Hill and the children under his baton deserve the very greatest credit for the way in which the music was sung. Some capital specimens of free-hand drawing by the pupils of the school were exhibited round the shed, and were excellent specimens of the art. We understand that the entertainment will be repeated shortly. DURHAM STREET WESLEYAN SCHOOL. The concert given at the Durham street Wesleyan school last evening was fairly attended. The various items of a well 83lected programme were capitally rendered, the instrumental portion particularly being very succpssful. The part songs also were nicely given, the voices blending well together. Mr J. T. M. Smith acted as conductor and Mr Searell as pianist. 1.0.G.T., LYTTELTON ADVANCE DECREE TEMPLE. A grand concert of vocal and instrumental music was given at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lyttelton, on Thursday night, in aid of the above. With two or three notable exceptions the performers were all friends from Christchurch ; Mr J. T. M. Smith acting as conductor, and Mr R. T. Seafell as pianist. The hall was fairly filled, but considering the beautiful night and the merit of the concert we should certainly have expected a larger attendance. We were also sorry to remark on the very bad conduct of some larrikins in the gallery, and the inattention and restlessness of many in the hall, and would suggest that in future a policeman should be stationed in the gallery, as it is a great pity that the performers, who come such a distance for a good object, and a large and respectable audience should be kept in a state of annoyance by a parcel of boys and young men, who can neither appreciate good music, nor even have the little sense that is required to pretend to do so. The choruses, Meyerbeer’s “ Hymen’s Torch,” Bishop’s “ Chough and Crow,” and “Now day’s retiring lamp,” sung by the company, were very nicely given, the voices blending harmoniously, “ For ever” was given by Mr Roberts in fair style, but his voice hardly filled the hall, and Mr W. 8. Smith was very much applauded for his rendering of Blockley’s “ Excelsior,” Miss Kent, on giving “ The Skipper and his boy,” was encored, and gave in response, “Tell the reason why, Robin,” very effectively. Mr C. M. Gray sang “ The Arab’s farewell to his steed” very sweetly. The Misses Rowley, who had kindly come down at the last moment in consequence of the unavoidable absence of several ladies who had promised to be present, gave a duet, which was deservedly encored, and responded with another. Mr J. T. M. Smith also sang a solo ; Mazzinghe’s trio, “ The Wreath,” given by Miss Rowley and Messrs Stansell and J. T. M. Smith; and “ The Red Cross Knight,” by Messrs Roberts, J. T. M. and W. S. Smith; and the part songs “ May Day" and “ What beams so bright,” by the company, all went fairly, and seemed to please the audience. The Misses Kent, in the duet “ O’er the hill, o’er the dale,” were rapturously encored, and gave that old favorite, “ The Cousins," with considerable archness and great effect. The concert as a whole was infinitely superior to anything yet fgiven by the Good Templars in Port, and we hope to hear many more such. Mr Searell’s accompaniments were admirably played throughout, aud two instrumental pieces by the Misses Reed and Hinett were given very crisply and effectively. Mr J. T. M. Smith conducted, as usual, quietly aud well.