LATE COMMERCIAL

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 60, 4 December 1926, Page 10

LATE COMMERCIAL

Invercargill, December 3. Sales reported—lnvercargill Borough Council (1931, 6 per cent.). JtlflO jOs.; New Zealand Guarantee Corporation, 10s. sd.

MISS HELEN ‘GARD’NER’S FINE EFFORT. The Concert Chamber; was very well' tilled last evening when Miss Helen Gard’ncr presented a programme.of plays and excerpts from plays, embracing comedy, drama, and Greek tragedy. She is to be congratulated on-,her choice and also on • the mounting and casting of the' various productions. The opening was a scene from Anthony and Cleopatra, when Miss Bessie Thompson, as Egypt’s queen gave a- distinguished interpretation. • Other parts were . ably taken by Misses Mary Cooley,. Effie Brice, Sinclair Breen, Mildred Nelson, Margaret Watson, Billee Williams, Eileen Norwood, Winnie Chudley, and Kate Serailoff. Next followed an amusing comedy sketch, "At the Polling Booth,” which centred round a eleven study of a garrulous deaf old women, sustained by Miss Katie Semiloff,- the other parts' by Miss M. Watson ’and Me-srs. Alex Walson and Alfred Blaxell being well done. Followed a most tragic scene from Hippolytus Euripides, when Miss Bessie Thompson gave a very .fine rendering of. the nurse of Phaedra,. the part of Phaedra being well done by Miss Mary Cooley. The setting of .blue velvet curtains, the half lights and graceful robes of the chorus made an impressive' picture, and the delightful music played by Mise Hilda Chudley behind the scenes all added to a memorable performance. Comedy with pathos in the end of it is the theme of ’Op-o’-me-thumb" when the poor little workhouse waif — cleverly played by Miss Edna Purdie-can no longer live in a castle of Spam and having deceived everyone, comes sadly to earth herself. The other parts, the French proprietress by Miss - Mary Cooley and the : laundry workers by Misses Billie- Williams, Ivy Middlemiss and Zehna Carroll, were very welL.dqne. A very stately: short drama, originally written as ar: prologue to “Macbeth, concluded tlrelqfrogramme, and again Miss Bessie Thompson, as . Morag,. the Lady of Fortingall, added to her laurels. Miss Thyra Baldwin made a charming Fern, Motag, her lovely hair with a golden circlet on it showing to preat- advantage. Miss Mav*.Macdonald made "a charming “Gruacn and Mr. Joe Elliot as Macbeth and Jasper Baldwin as Cotian Thane of Fortingall were extremely good. The- staging was perfect in dignity and restraint; thia scene and the Cleopatra were perhaps the best and afforded a sharp contrast the gorgeous and coloured - .setting and. dressing of the Egyptians being extremely effective. - ' '' ‘ The various performers -received many beautiful bouquets and boxes of chocolates. ■■ The proceeds - are to go to the Artillery queen fund. ..... .... .