Concert and Pickwick Entertainment.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 272, 14 October 1884, Page 2

Concert and Pickwick Entertainment.

The Avesleyan Mutual Improve- 1 meat Society gave their first public entertainment m the Wesleyan Hall ; last evening to a crowded audience, arid is to be congratulated on the very successful manner m which the ■ programme was : co; efficiently cai vied ■'; out Mr tl. Leary having taken the chair, -briefly addressed the -audience 7 stating the aims; the society had m view and the cause -of the gathering that evening viz., to assist tile niemV berswith funds necessary, for.defraying the cost- of requisite appendages io, connection with ihe'class. When the organisation" was* "first started BOiue five months lmclt,the then members only counted twelve; since then and up to the present time the membership had considerably increased, and now reached fifty. , The Rev. Mr Bunn had taken a good deal of pains and personal practical interest m its inauguratiqn,and from the commencement had not failed to' continue his praiseworthy exertions 10, make the weekly^gatherings of the" young men both attractive and intellectually..' bem;fic : al. A good mini her of debates had taken place during the 'short time the society had been established. ; sub-^ jects of commercial and general iuter'est had been handled by the, members taking part m these debates with surprising head knowledge o f the qneitioW under disciissionjand it wsis a matter of congratulation to their presiden t that such . a successful on tceme should be the resnifc of jus pains?, tiiking ( en(feav6r^ for their mutual benefit. He would not detail further the working of the class but refer to ihe pre.senir entertftinnflsftt. first . ; part'of wh : ch he noticed; consisted c»f miisicial sel ections Land recitations, <&cl, after which members of the class would produce the trial scene from Pickwick, and m this undertaking be. > would leave the members to speak for themselves. The first item on the programme ' was" a 1 song and chorus entitled " Eifen Allarinah'" This having been well received, by/ the audience, Messrs Gould and Daniels gave a dialogue from '* Wit- ' Ham Tell " which was Toiidly applauded.: A -duett next followed entiUed' "Music and her sister Spng, ** rendered effectively by Mrs' Hoe and MrsLeighj and Mr Haybittle then recited a descriptive poem "Papii'g Letter." Mr Haybittle- acquitted 11 himself well m this; his declamatory and elocutionary powers quite taking 1 with the audience who applauded him to the echo. Another driett given by MrS Hoe and Mr Healy .was well received. Mr. Wbitehead next recited bringing the first part of- the programme to a close. After a short interval the -main attraction of the entertainment .was proceeded, with* Tho^ well known trial by jury from Pickwick, introducing all the principal characters m. the laughable breach of promise case Bardell-v. Pickwick, was produced m a. manner reflecting 1 the ; greatest credit on the-performei^-'As counsel for the plaintiff Mr ; Patten appeaivd quite at home, and iii his opening address made one quite forget he was oivly aciting ii- part. Mr Stubbs also as opposing counsel appeared, to advantage and- cross-qups-tioned with ar wcll^feignedi barrister's ability. Tho two female characters viz.," Mrs BardelJv pl« Jntiff,< and her witness (Mrs .Clappings) were sus- -r tamed by Messrs Feasy and Hay- '■ bittle, ]un;, -i-esj^ectiyeiy, and with capital affect, the latter especially hadthe audience repeatedly m roars o^* laughlerj- his mimic demeanour m the : witness box and 6n being = removed being moat Imlicrons and «side-split-ting, -As Samuel Weller Mr Danielq desei-res great praise for the success- ■' in] rendering of his ],articitlai* role: The hrarious other minor characters were excellently arranged and sustained, Judge, Clerk of Court, and jury being represented- by Messrs Grace, Whitehead, Hartley, and bfcher members of the class respiec*?vely.

This, the society's "first entertainment "was an undoubted success m every* respect, and should bean incentive to the members to continue progressing m their good work.