Y.M.C.A. DISPLAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20102, 23 November 1939, Page 2

Y.M.C.A. DISPLAY

TALENTED GYMNASTS VARIED PROGRAMME POLISH AND PRECISION GIRL’S FEAT OF STRENGTH The Gisborne-East Coast Young Men's Christian Association has provided many displays of the advantages of physical culture and gymnastic work, but few have equalled that presented in tire Opera House last evening, when a programme of nearly 30 items was conducted with all the speed and snap of a revue, and scores of young people who have benefited from the work of the association demonstrated the methods evolved by physical instructors during recent years.

There have been many changes in the system of physical instruction, but the fundamentals remain the same as ever, and in last night’s display a large audience followed with keen interest the evolutions of young athletes of both sexes whose work they were able to compare with that of the classes of previous years. Large numbers of the performers already had taken part in one or more of the association’s annual displays, and now appeared in classes for more advanced work, these performers being fairly easily distinguished even though ■ the general standard was gratifyingly high.

Leading Local Talent

The producers had the assistance of some leading musical and dancing talent, and of particular value was the contribution of Stuart Sheet's orchestra, which provided entractes and incidental music. Mr. Jas. E. Mercer, who was accorded a hearty reception on his last stage appearance before entering upon a course of training for the R.N.Z.A.F., was heard to advantage in a solo number, and Audrey and Nola Illingworth, Annette Shields and Tommy Martin danced expertly and spiritedly, in their respective appearances. Ballets and specialities of more than average interest were included in the programme, a skipping ballet being particularly effective, and the “Colour Cavalcade” ballet also reaching a standard worthy of a professional production. The chief item of the display was, of course, the turn of the “Great North Island Troupe,” the members of which produced gymnastic and acrobatic turns of exceptional interest, this turn also including the presentation of “Herculesse,” a Gisborne girl of 12 years who succeeded in balancing a 1501 b. youth vertically on her hands, while lying on the stage.

Comprehensive Demonstration

A series of tumbling acts, demonstrations of drill, pyramid-building, club-swinging, parallel bar work, and various other departments of class instruction helped to round out a good sound programme, in which also the junior and senior harmonica bands were heard to advantage, and Mr. W. Taylor, assistant instructor, gave a polished exhibition of torch-swinging, this performer also taking part with Mr. Norman Robb in a clever series of clowning acts which added much to the interest and hilarity of the programme. Much credit for the preparation of the display was due to the association s physical instructor, Mr. R. O. Blackwell, whose experience overseas was developed to good purpose in devising distinctive touches for last night s programme. The director was, indeed, embarrassed by the variety of talent at his disposal, and the one feature of the programme which detracted somewhat from its appeal was its undue length. The final item was staged after 11 p.m., and many suburban. residents were obliged to leave the theatre or miss their buses.