SCHOOLS’ FESTIVAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20109, 1 December 1939, Page 5

SCHOOLS’ FESTIVAL

YOUNG ENTERTAINERS WORK DONE IN SCHOOLS GREAT PUBLIC INTEREST The scores of young children taking part last evening in the Poverty Bay primary schools’ festival provided splendid entertainment for the packed audience ,at the Opera House. The booking office was closed at midday the day before the performance and there were no seats available when the show opened last evening. At; an interval in the programme the president of the festival committee. Mr. A. E. If. Parkinson, said that it was impossible to repeat the performance for the benefit of those unable to attend the first, night, as was the case last year. He thanked the children for the zeal which they had shown in learning their parts to make the entertainment a success, and the teachers for their splendid and painstaking work in the training of the children. The staff of the Opera House and teachers assisting were thanked for their work as ushers. Credit Due to Children

The precision with which the children carried out their parts, and the acting' - in the short plays presented met with the approval of the audience and it was evident that much of the credit was due to the children for the interest they showed in making their particular items strong sections of the performance. There was a competitive spirit in effect that the eight schools vied with each other for the most popular item. The objects of the festival were successful in showing what was being carried out in the schools to further dramatic art and music. The children also were given an opportunity to express themselves on the stage, and although the money was only the third consideration it formed a fund that was necessary for the furtherance of the work in the schools.

The co-operation among the children was clear in the first item on the programme, songs by the combined choir. The members of the choir learned their parts at their respective schools and it was only a day or two before the festival that they were brought together for the final rehearsals. Their numbers were “God Defend New Zealand” (Woods) and “Song With Descant”—The Flight of the Earls (arc. Geoffrey Shaw). The choir closed the performance with a two-part song in canon, "I Have Twelve Oxen," Items from Schools The other items presented by the individual schools were:— St. Mary's School.—Verse-speaking choir, “The Solitary Reaper” (Wordsworth). “Sweet and Low” (Tennyson), and “Lilac Time” (Alfred Noyes), action song, “Fairy Folk." Te Hapara School.—Rythmic song, “Bouncing Ball.” Act, “A Mock Trial;” a fair scena—songs, "Now Tis the Hour,’’ "O, Who Will O’er the Downs?” "Silent Night,” and "Pokarc.” Makaraka School.—Play, , “Dick Whittington;’’ and pyramid building. Kaiti School.—Ballad and chorus, “Robin Hood” (John E. West); English folk song, “The Keeper” (arr. Cecil J. Sharp); old rhymes to new tunes; play, “Unclever Hans.” . Mangapapa School. —Unison song, “The Admiral’s Broom” (F. Bevan); two-part song, “The Mountain Maid’s Invitation (Werner); choral speaking, "The Song of the Sea Wind’’ (Austin Dobson); drill display; and poi dance. Awapuni School.—“ Play Day in Holland.” Marifit Brothers’ School.—Oration, “Lincoln's , Speech at Gettysburg;” two-part song, “Has Sorrow Thy Young Days Shaded” (Moore); drill, dumb-bell display. Gisborne Central School. —Rhythmic drill; play, “The Spider" (Norah Ratchiff); maypole dance; songs, "On Wings of Song” (Mendelsshon), “The Lorelei” (Silcher), and “In a Garden’' (Pat'tison).