CHILDREN PRESENT BRIGHT CONCERT AT WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 28, 3 December 1948, Page 5

CHILDREN PRESENT BRIGHT CONCERT AT WHAKATANE

Bright songs, dances • and small sketches put on the stage with all the confidence of seasoned actors, produced a concert of a' very high standard not usually attained by children, at the benefit concert of the Whakatane Sunbeams, held in the Grand Theatre on Tuesday night. With colourful scenery and unusual lighting effects the various acts were well staged and enthusiastically received by the, capacity audience. So popular were some of the items that encores were demanded. ' Because of the length of the programme however, _ there were none. * The show started late. to allow all of the audience to be seated for the first items. There were not sufficient seats for everyone and empty soft.drink boxes and*forms in several places in the aisles were used. Opening with the overture played by special eight-piece orchestra, the concert commenced with all the children singing the Young New Zealanders’ Club song. Then item followed item in quick succession Without suggestion of a hitch. The months of training was then evident. The children themselves controlled the stage, and the announcing of the items was done by'Joan Mollett in an accomplished manner. At the end of the performance various presentations were made whilfe the producer, Mr R. Chapman, was presented by the children with a mat of Kiwi feathers, as worn by Maori chiefs. Mr Chapman told the audience that the crippled children, for whom the concert was in aid of, would benefit to the extent of £SO. He outlined the immense amount of work that had gone in to the show. He was sure that the Whakatane Sunbeams, present holders of the cup for child welfare of Young New Zealanders’ Clubs throughout the Dominion, would retain it for the coming year. On behalf of the crippled children, Mr Chapman and his club were thanked by Dr. E: T. Dawson, superintendent of the Whakatane Hospital.