SCHOOL CONCERT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 508, 18 November 1909, Page 2

SCHOOL CONCERT.

AN UNQUALIFIED -

SUCCESS,

The above concert took place in the Public Hall on Tuesday night, and was again repeated last night. It was attended by the largest audi* euce that has yet been seen in the hall. Extra seating accommodation had been provided in the front for half the children taking part in the performance, and they were, packed together like sardines—many of the seats were given up to adults. Before half past seven o’clock on Tuesday night, despite the rain, the front seats were com- v . fortably filled and by ,8 o’clock ' parents were wedged in and late comers had to content themselves as best they could on seats at the back. The behaviour of the children throughout was very good and in marked contrast to that of certain young hoodlums in the back who found pleasure in throwing lollies and peanuts about.

The progtamme, of 37 items, kept the audience keenly interested. The manner in which the children acquitted themselves reflects the highest credit upon the teaching staff. The spectacular . items included a flower song drill and scarf drill which were specially delightful features of the entertainment and we tender our congratulations to the girls and to their instructress, Miss Jackson. The physical drill, by a squad of Caplain Gabites’ cadets, was a • surprise packet and the achievement was greeted with thunderous applause. We suggest that the cadets be given an opportunity to comlete in this direction at the next military sports. We desire to make special mention of the “ Merry Blacksmiths,” the tuneful clanging of the anvil and the glare of the furnace —showing the ruddy and healthful glow of the young bare-armed mechanics —was excellent. In the elocutionary items, Clarence Coley, Jack Hornblow, little Moana McEwen and Cecil. White in the first half and Mary Collins, Edgar, McEwen and William Nye in the second half did* remarkably, well. Victor jßetty starred his character song, “ I’m a member of the Force,” and his judicious business created roars of laughter. Clifford Podmore as “Joe, the railway porter,” will live long in the memory of the audience. Little Irene Stiles ancL. Willie Bresnahau captivated tm? audience with their. clearly spoken, dialogue, In fact the enunciation throughout was very clear. The children had their own chairmen, Allen Walls in the first half and a manly little fellow ) named Edgar McEwen, whodafsr' the way, scored a great success with the recital of “ How he Minded Baby,” in • the isecond half. Miss Wanklyn presided at the piano in the first half and Miss Jackson in the second. The following is the programme :

Opening speech, Allan Walls; opening chorus, “A Happy Family We,” Company; recitation, ‘‘The Incomplete Reciter,” Jack Hornblow ; song, “Robbing a Nest,” Willie Langley; dialogue, “Fairy’s Friends from over the Sea,” Irene Easton (Fairy). Myrtle Pearson (Japanese), Stella Barber (Eskimo), Tim Lennihan (Indian), Tony Vidulich (Dutch Boy), Hope Mackie (French Girl) ; song and fan-drill, “Little Girlies From Japan,”—’Kathleen White, Gladys Walls, Bernie Brewer, Dorothy Hazlett, Eva de Ridder, Felcie Owen, Milva Collins, Doris son, Myrtle Pearson, Avis Stiles, Annie Baker, Barbara Procter, Eileen Cummerfield, Olive Nye ; dialogue, ‘‘The two Dunces,” Mona McEwan and Cecil White ; song, “ The Railway Porter,” Clifford Podmore ; song, “My Bike,” Marion Levett; song, “ I want to be a Man,” Clarence Coley ; chorus, ‘ ‘ Shoemaker John,” —Shoemaker, Willie Kruse; dialogue, “Troubles' of a Baby,” Mary Procter and May Brewer ; song, “The Lazy Girl,” Amy Adin; dialogue, “May’s Sick Doll,”—lrene Stiles and Willie Bresnahan; handkerchief song and drill, by company ; dialogue, “A Stitch in Time,” Madge Desmond and Hope Mackie; song, “ Trades,” —Roy Rimmer (Shoemaker), Horace Read -(Tailor), Jack Hornblow (Butcher), McCormack (Carpenter), Johnny Mairs (Organ-grinder), Louis Read(Flaxmiller), Leonard Martin (Miller), George Walsh (Grocer) ; star - drill Madge Desmond, Marion Levett, Stella Spring, Irene Easton, Lorna Woodroofe, Amy Adin, Grace ■> Reeve, Maggie Satherley, Maggie Proctor, Sybil Bright, Hope Mackie, Grace Robinson, and Lily Johnson. Second part: Chairman, E* McEwen; chorus, “Red White and Blue,”- — Britannia, Elsie Robinson ; song, “My own New Zealand Home,” Evelyn Langley ; recitation (in character), “How Mrs Maloney * went to the Dentist,” Mary Colling; waxworks show—Gordon White and Silas Moran (Showmen), Bert Wyeth (Bluebeard), Elsie Robinson (Bluebeard's Wife), Reginald Riddle (Dandy), Mary Hughes (Mrs Gamp), Cecil Robinson (Jack Horner), Elsie King (MrsPartington), Howard White (Knight), William Weller (Dirty Boy), William Speirs (Grandmother); chorus and drill, “ Beautiful Flowers,” by company of girls," song (in character), “Poor Married / Man,” Douglas Walls; , physical~N drill, by cadets—Sergt. Betty (in command), Sergt. Nye, Cofoptals Barber, Aitken, Fraser, Privates H. Robinson, W. Robinson, F, Hadfield, Wyeth; song and chorus “Climb, Boys, Climb.” Basil Walls; duet, “The Two Dollies,” ' Doris Small and Rose Hadfield; song (in character), ’T’m a member of the Force,” Victor Betty; recitation, “How I tended the

Baby/’ Edgar McEwan ; chorus, “The Blacksmiths,” the boys; song (in character), “Another Day,” Myra Wanklyn (Mother) and Mary Collins (Daughter); song (Is, character), “I’m Goin’ Back to Dixie,” Basil Walls; recitation (in character), “ The Twins,” William Nye ; scarf-drill —Florence Vidulich, Ellen Skellen, Ethel Spring, Lett, Elsie King, Jeannie McKnight, Vera Rushton, Elsie Rimmer, Kathleen Betty, Georgina Gavey, Evelyn Reeve, Florence Edlin, Eileen Lenihau ; humorous dialogue, “ Women’s Rights,”—Mr Smith, “A Hen-pecked Husband” (Bertie Wyeth), and Mrs Smith, “An Aspirant for Parliamentary Honours” (Ivy Richmond), Mr Jones, a neighbour (Garnet Fraser); chorus, “Good Night ” ;

and “God Save the King.” The financial result of the concert should return about