FIRST CLASS CONCERT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 42, 28 July 1939, Page 8

FIRST CLASS CONCERT

GOOD NIGHT AT KING STREET PRESBYTERIAN JUBILEE The crowded King Street Hall on Wednesday night enjoyed a concert of crcditably high standard, staged as part of the jubilee celebrations of the Knox Presbyterian Church. Everfy item was heartily applauded and en'cored, and this did no morqi than 'justice to their excellence. Particularly jjraiseworthy was the way in which the producers grappled with the difficulty of a cramped stage and lack of dressing accommodation and crowding in the wings. Altogether it was a very pleasant evening, ably compered by the Rev K. J. Watson.

Rousing selections by Caledonian Socicty pipers and drummers opened the programme, and the encores were followed by ever-popular Ma,ori numbers from the Poroporo native school children under their headmaster Mr A. Boswell. The girls wove rhythmic patterns with their pois, and boj T s and girls combined in an action song. Choral speaking followed, the first number being a Maori lullaby with the plaintive "Hine e Hine" follow, ing the spoken verses. This was very effective, as was the next selection which consisted of some sage advice to picnickers. The children sang "Oh who will o'er the Downs'' and ''Now the Day is Over" and ended their excellent contribution with "Pokarekare" and a haka by the boys. Mrs J. Riddel 1 scored a success in "Simple Simon,'' an elocutionary number, with ''Susan" as an encors, and Mr Carlton Kerr r is mouthorgan solos were also popular. A vocal solo "Yonder'' byMrs showed that the singer had 'a full true voice and "Daffodils" was a good encore. Isobel Martin danced the Sean Triubhais and an encore in her usual crisp and neat style. Two anthems bv the Knox choir ''Praise tho Lord, Oh Jerusalem"' and "Thou Crownest the Years'' were given with good volume and precision. The solo parts were excellent and the execution right through was a credit to Mr Boswell's conducting. A GOOD PLAY. One of the niost popular parts of the programme followed when the play "Windowpanes'" was presented by a group of players from the Lyceum Club. Produced bv Mils M. Whiteside, the play dealt with the effect of gossip. Mrs J. Riddell was excellent as Mrs Watson, a lady who s sat at her window and found amuse- < nient in spreading empty stories founded on 'the flimsy material gathered by her 1 roving eyes. She was the central figure of the play and her studj' of the small town gossip was really devastating in its approach to real life. Dawn Henderson, as Nan, icr youngest daughter, put some col)ur into her lines and her retorts to garrulous parent were well done fhough Miss Mavis Graham, as Meg, he elder daughter, was a little life, ess at times her work was general, y good. She did not have the easiest 'f parts. Miss E. Boswell took the •art of Miss Purvis with a certain ir of confidence and Miss P. Ngatai nd Miss M. Dell gave good perform-

ances as the old maid .s'sters. Miss Georgina and Miss Janet Palter. Miss Whiteside handled the role of Miss Simpson the subject of Mrs Watson's fantasies, very well. Tbn lovelv ''On, Awav, Awake Beloved" suited Mr Armstrongs voice n ml Miss T. Hobin and Miss Grant, though handicapped by their instrument, were good in a piano duct. (Continued next column)

Combined Championship: Mrs M. King and Mr C. N. Menges (silver buttons). Junior Ladies: Miss S. Addison (a cup donated by Mr Kirkbride). Runner-up: Miss Anne Lcith Lut. trell. A silver button donated by Mr Kirkbride was won, by Miss J. Grover as third. Dancing continued until a late hour when the National Anthem clos c<{ a pleasant evening. | Those present werc : Mrs M. Kins' Mr s K. Bel J, Mrs J. Wardlaw Mr r! VTardlaw, Mrs J. Ruff, Mrs'" Grover Mrs Mitchell, Mrs Boynton Mrs Ruff Mi's IT. Wardlaw, .Mrs T. ' Savage. C. u o |j, Mrs R. Wardlaw Mrs A. Luttrell, Mr s J. R u fT, Mrs Stevenson, Mrs Henderson Mr,.; p. H ; ,]j '-Irs Axtens, Mus Dueker, \|;x R o i Kr f I Wardlnv.;, Mrs Hampton. Misses M. Woolfidrt A. Burnett 1 v S. A.ddison, P. Cransn, K. D->r:m Kil-«»n Sddison, ?,r. Stansliurv.. M. T?<ifr A. J- MeConnel), p. M<'C (Jrove"_ S. Grover, K. WaHon, O. /' :I! ; ns J. Miller. 'M. ' In - V " N - u - U:i'ihes,. M. Wrr.]i a , v .