Y.M.C.A. CARNIVAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1563, 5 October 1912, Page 6

Y.M.C.A. CARNIVAL.

. A FINE DISPLAY. The calisthenic carnival given under th» auspices of tho Y.M.C.A. in tho . Opera House last evening was distinctly creditable, and in some respects sets a new standard in this class of 'work. Mr; C. N. Howard, the director of, tho Y.M.C.A, fj-mnasium, which bv tho way has a. tales' and girls' section, is evidently" a man of ideas. He specialises in. massed effects such as 'marches, running mazes, clubs, dumbbells, and wand exercise.?, achieving some of tho prettiest effects by mixing tho exercises. There is nothing but praiso for the very admirable stage management of tho carnival, in which department Mr. Howard had tho assistance of Mr. A. C. Circles of airy light were made by tho'squad of girls engaged in the- ball-swinging exhibition early, in the evening, and a brilliant effect was obtained by the electric' club-, swinging act by the ladies, led by the instructor. The Roman rings perfovmanco was only fair, but ample amends were made in tho massed Swedish drill by a stage-full of ladies and iueri, and tho clover exhibition of hnnd-balaneing. In the latter item, tho men seemed as ■much at home walking up and down stairs and over obstacles on their bands as other people are on their feet. Tho men gave an attractive exhibition with iron wands, and the smaller boys were equally interesting with tho bar-bells. The Jadies evidenced suppleness of arm and wrist in a very pretty display with silver rods, in which the movements woto intricate and the attitudinising picturesque. Tho girls skipped daintily, the ladies—Amazon-like—wielded swords with much deftness, Somo of the lads sparred a few rounds and the boys and men were concerned in parallel and horizontal-bar performances. One of the cleverest "turns" was the tumbling ami semi-con-tortion act of Messrs. C. Nicholls and "Teddy." Tho latter, made up as a comical tramp, was exceptionally elastic in physique, aud kept the audience sunnierroe' with laughter at his contortionists antics. Mr. H." A. Parker contributed an'old-timo trapezo act rather well, and, assisted by Mr. G. Blair, gave a display of jiu-jitsu tactics, which • tho audience thoroughly appreciated. A capable' or-: chestra under Mrs. Monk played the. accompanying music with splendid animation throughout.