SPLENDID CORONATION ENTERTAINMENT BY TOWNSWOMEN'S GUILD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 100, 14 May 1937, Page 11

SPLENDID CORONATION ENTERTAINMENT BY TOWNSWOMEN'S GUILD

Seldom have the women of Hastings enjoyed such a treat as the Coronation ontertainment presented in the Municipal Theatre yesterday afternoon by meinbers of the Hastings Townswomen's Guild. Much preparation preceded the entertainment, but the performers were rewarded with an absolutely packed house, and the applauso gave evidence that all was received with appreciation. The programme was diivided into two parts, Part Iy " Salutation, ' ' and Part II., "A Pageant of History." Before commencing the first par't the orchestra, Miss McHutchon (piano), Mr J. Warren (violin) and Mr G. Marsicano ( 'cello), played the over ture, and this was followed by the singing of the National Anthem. When the curtain rose the central iigure was Britannia (Mrs Whetstone), and round her were grouped the chorus and representatives of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and New Zealand in costume, who in turn gave songs and dances characteristic of their land. The programme was as follows: — "Jerusalem," sung by the chorus; prologue, Enid Westerman; sailor's hompipe, Stella Swiggs; English song, Miss E. Compton; Engliish folk dance, the Misses Payne (2) and Stoekham (2); Soottish song, Miss Cunnold; Highland fling, Marie Hyde; Irish song, Mrs G. Marsicano; Irish jig, Pat Marsicano; Welsh song, Miss I. des Forges; Welsh dance, Kathleen Kiley and Mary Blackmore; Maori aetion eong, the Kohupatiki Maoris; Land of Hope and Glory, Miss G." Coleman and the chorus. The second part of the progrtmme was a really wonderful pageant of history from Boadicea to the time of the Great War, carried out in period costumes. These were very colourful and most beautifully made, all being very much admired by the audience. The characters were announced by Mdsa Helen Ford, who also read a few words of description about each. During ihe pageant two songs were beautifully sung by Mrs Bees Kemp, the first "Four Maries," when Mary, Queen of Scots, and her maids were on the stage, and the second the "Syke Boat Song" for Bonnie Prince Charlie and Plora Macdonald. Those taking part in the pageant were: — Boadicea, Mrs Gallien; Queen Bertha, Mre Buck; Queen Edith, Mrs A. B. O'Meara; Queen Eleanor, Mrs Kirkman; Queen' Phillippa, Mrs Jackson; Kin'g Edward III., Mrs W. Bryant; Countess of Salisbury, Mrs Ouligan; Black Prince, Miss Bryant; Margaret of Anjou, Mrs P. S, Budd; The Prinees in the Tower, E. Westerman and K. Eiley; Henry YIII., Mrs Whetstone; Katherine of Aragon, Mrs J. B. Pickering; Anne Boleyn, Mre Kirkpatrick; Jane Seymour, Mrs Warrington; Anne of Cleves, Mrs Macaulay; Katherine Howard, Mra Esler; Catherine Parr, Mrs F. Vaughan; The Tudor Children: Mary, M. Riley; Elizabeth, P. Lockyer; Edward VI., P. Eiley; Mary L of England, Mrs Rood; Lady Jane Grey, M. Meissner; 'Queen Elizabeth, Mrs C. Clark; Ann Hatherway, Mrs Taylor; Mary Queen of Saots, Miss Euth Small; Queen 's Ladies: Mary Carmichael, Mrs V. L. Westerman, Mary Seaton, Mre Innes Campbell, Mary Beaton, Mrs E. Y. Comrie, Mary Hamilton, Mrs Hill'; The Pilgrim Fathers, Mrs Boyle, Miss E. Strang, M. Colello; Mrs Oliver Cromwell, Mrs Sarah Jones; Nell Gwynne, Miss McLean; Queen Anne, Mrs E. V. Simpson; Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, Mrs A. C. A. Hyde; Peg Woffington, Miss Watson; Flora Macdonald, Mrs McAlister; Prince Charlie, Mrs Harper; Mary Wollstonecraft, Mrs Kelly; Duchess of Devonshire, Mrs des Forgee; Elizabeth Fry, Mrs A. L. Crawford; Lady Hamilton, Miss Alix Eoch1 fort; Victoria, the Young Queen, Mrs E. CJampbell; Victoria (Jubilee), Mrs L. W. Goldfinch; Florenee Nightingale, Mrs G. Steevens; Mary Anne Disraeli, Miss J. Shaw; Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Mrs A. L. Baumgart; Grace Darling, Miss Griffiths; Mrs Beeton, Mre Youngej Mrs Pankhurst, Mrs Kittermaster; Policemen, Miss Harris and Mrs Robins; Edith Cavell, Miss Shaw; War W'orkers: Munition Workers, Mesdames McKay and Walker, Land Girl, Mra Anderson, V.A.D., Miss E. Taylor. At the end of the pageant all tho characters stood on the stage while the Guild president, Mrs A. F. Glenny, thanked the audience for their appreciation. Mrs E. Riley, who had arranged the whole pageant, Mrs F. Deans, the guild secretary, who was a valuable assietant, Miss McHutchon, tho guild accompanist, who was responsible for all the musical part of the programme, were brought forward, and Mrs Glenny presented to each a beautiful bouquet and a marzipan posy. Miss Ford also received a bouquet. The performers and tho audience joined in singing the National Anthem.