PLEASING ENTERTAINMENT

Chronicle (Levin), 16 August 1946, Page 4

PLEASING ENTERTAINMENT

COLLEGE PUPILS' CONCFHT LARGE FIRST-NIGHT AUDIENCE Parents and other members of the public filled the Horowhenua College assembly hall last night for the opening performance of the annual concert by the college pupils. Items by the girls' ch.oir, a well-staged drama by a cast of boys, poi dances and a gymnastic display held the attention of the audience throughout the first half, while the second part was occ.upied with a very fine presentation of an historical pageant. n The programme began with the choir singing Strauss' immortal waltz, "Spring's Return" (Wine, women and song) . Being a wellknown and popular number, it was well received by the audience. Following the choir's item was a drama, "The Threat," by_ Ella Adkins, with a cast of boys, who must be congratulated on overcoming to a large extent the handicap of portraying adult characters. The success of this presentation was assisted by the excellence of the stage "props." The cast was as follows: — "Arthur Brian, K.C.," J. Curran; "John Hargraves," J. Salmons; "Major Grayson," M. Armstrong; "Captain Williams," J. Norton; Lieut. SaimHovc " n sf.prrt • "Npil Charreris." I.

Jamieson; and "Stevens" (Brian 's servant) , W. Stern. The next item was "Manurere," a poi dance, staged by Maori girl pupils, who held the attention of the audience with an excellent display of well-timed rhythmic actions and harmonious singing. The girls who took part were:— D. Ropoama, M. Koperu, R. McMillan, A. Jacob, C. Williams, M. Cribb, K. Patuaka, R. Ropoama, P. Lewis and B. Bevan. Th'en followed fifteen minutes of thrilling gymnastics by a squad of pupils under Mr. F. A. L. Moriarty. The skill and agility of these boys and girs was a surprise "to* the majority of the audience, and showed tlie extent to which Mr. Moriarty had trained his class. The Historical Pageant Following an interval, an historical pageant, re-enacting the story of England, was staged by a large cast of pupils. Song, dances and recitation combined to weave the long and involved story into a comprehensive summary of England's glorious past. The whole pageant was staged on the steps of an English cathedral, blitzed during the Nazis' air assault. The backdrop which represented the cathedral steps, was a credit to the college art master, Mr. M. R. Smith, and some of the art pupils. The

costuming, all of which was m&ae at the college, was remarkably wetl done, reflecting a gift for improvisation and a great deal of workj by those responsible. The pageant began with a prologue, "Fairest Isle," by Purcell, sung by the girls' choir. It then proceeded down through various salient incidents in English history, such as Magna Carta, Agincourt, the Elizabethan age, the Civil War and the peace that followed, the Napoleonic Wars, the Victorian era and, finally, the last two World Wars. Songs used in the presentation were: — "Now is the Month of Maying," by Morley, sung by the girls' choir; "Drake's Drum," by Lady Lennard, solo, L. Giles and boys' choir; '"For England," by A. Murray, . by the combined choir ; "Rule Britannia," "Land of Hope and Glory" (solo by A. Allen), and Blake's "Jerusalem," all by the combined choir. Four dances, a minuet, a jig, a Victorian ballet and a dance militaire, were used to illustrate certain periods. Those taking part were: — "Anyman," N. Sciascia; "Anywoman," L. Verrent; "Valour," B. Stern; ,3Ratienoe,".---v..?A. . - Nichol; . ; "King Aiffed*"'--"€i -Walker; - ."Barohs," B. Bwari,- Jv Dome, R. Haley; "Henry V," E. Catley; "Elizabeth," J. Perigo; "Courtier," M. .. Parlato;. ""Cromwell," Y. Lutz; "Cavalier," J. Parr; "Milton," M. Whyman; "Thios. Giray," !D. CroWley; "Nelson," J. Ellen; "Victorian Man," Alison Todd; "Victorian Woman," Lois Franklin. The dancers were: — Minuet: J. Ching, B. Young, P. Prendeville, S. Stevens, B. Peach, A. Read, B. Ching, P. Stratford, E. Hudson and J1 Mason. Jig: P. Marshall, C. Dwyer, A. Lindon and M. Haggerty. Ballet: A. Read, P. Prendeville, B. Ching, J. Ching, B. Peach, J. Mason and A. Hutton. Militaire: E. Hudson, M. McLaughlin, B. Mouatt, J. Jacob, N. Mudgway and B-. Young. Pianist: Mrs. Maher. The choir was comprised of the following: — Contraltos: V. Adrian, V, Barkla, L. Barkla, M. Brash, J. Graham, M. Haggerty, S: Heywood, P. MarshalJL, ~ K. McDonald, P. Prendeville, L. Robinson, B. Richards, S. Smith, A. Todd, J. Todd and M. M. Williams. Sopranos: A. Allen, P.- Bly, V. Bishop, B. Ching, J. Capewell, M. Casey, V. Darroch. B. Duncan, J. Dumbell, J. Drake, "M. Grant, A. Hudson, E. Hudson, L Hazelwood. L. Jamieson, P. Kuiti, S. Knight, J. Tyree, W. Murray, M. McLean, J. Petersen, M. Parlato, J. Perigo, J. Parr, J. Phillips, L. Short. S. Stevens, C. Stern, H. Spiers, A. Tooby, W. Tweed, Ly Verrent, S. Whitham, M: Whyman and M. Way. Boys: B. Bartosh, J. Dome, J. Ellen, L. Giles, R. Haley. P-. Hannan, P. Jarrett, B. Lind, P. Mercer, R. Mfeagher, B. McCarty, G. Nichol, R. Parrington^N. Sciascia, B. Swan, N* Winiata, C. Walker and R. Whelan. Accompanisfc: Miss Jean Davie. Great credit for the success of the pageant must go to the producer, Miss Chapman-Cohen, whose task i'n training, the cast .with. sickness so prevalent was an unenviable one. The portrayals given by the leading characters^

showed that they had been well chosen, and the standard achieved could have only been the outcome of much painstaking work on the producer's part. Special mention must also be made of the fine ohoral work, for which Miss A. Browning was responsible and' the training of the ballet by Mrs. Yorstan. The concert was most enjoyable from start to finish, and it is hoped that the final presentation to.night will again draw a capacity audience. s