“HIAWATHA”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12604, 15 November 1926, Page 11

“HIAWATHA”

DANCE RECITAL AND PLAY. The one fault to be found with tho spectacular combination of verse pl'iy and dance recital presented at the Opera House on Saturday evening by Miss Carwell Cooke and Mrs John Hannah was its undue length. Either the play or the recital would have made an evening’s performance, and both would probably have gained thereby. The story of Hiawatha was picturesquely staged under Mrs Hannah’s direction, and a number of dances were interpolated by Miss Carwell Cooke, who cleverly mado them fit into the story; thus , the winds and the birds and the flowers who were the friends and guardians of the young Hiawatha were all represented in dance, and Indian dancers came to Hiawatha’s wedding feast, and danced in honour of him and hig bride, Minnehaha. Miss Carwell Cooke was herself seen in several solo dances on this occasion, first as the Prairie Maiden, who with the south wind (Miss Maris Chamberlain), and the north wind (Miss Dorothy Me Farlane), watched over the young Hiawatha, charmingly played by Miss Peggie Welch, who proved herself a clever little actress. Miss Cooke then did a toe dance solo in the flower ballet, dressed in the fluffy pink petals of a peony, and lastly was a most effective Indian maiden dancing at the wedding feast. Other performers in thisbeing Misses O. Hazelton* J. Rawstoii, C. Wylie, A. Phillips, G. Swinburne, and M. Eeson ae Indian maidens, and Misses N- Hotter, J. Combs, E. Odlin, E. Radford, N. Davidson, N. Shannon, D. McFarlane, E. Odlin, J. Rabone, and M. Chamberlain as Indian braves. The night and flower ballets made a gay scene; the children dressed as all kinds of flowers, with fireflies, owls, eto., made a brilliant finale to the first act. Dances in solos, duos, trios, as well as concerted numbers. The following took part: Fireflies. Lorna Thompson, B. Priestley, K. Tullet, D. Cox, D. Grainger, G. Hazelton, and N. Roberts; owls, Gwen Swinson, Christina Brown; star, Nona Holter; moonlight, Ena Radford; robins, J. Culverwell, M. Johnson, and N. Roberts; bluobird, Roma Topp: chrysanthemums, N. Holter, E. Radford, E. Odlin, and J. Combs; columbine, Lorna Thompson; geranium, Ida Roberts; bluebells, Olive Burns and: Betty Harvey ; nasturtiums, B. Priestley, K. Tullet, D. Cox, D. Grainger, G. Hazelton; morning glories, Ngaire Bnms, Joyce Bedford, Bernice Hogg; crocus, Valerie Neely, Babare Sherwood; four-leaf clover, Pam Alexander; thistle, Peter Lea; bullmshes, N. Davidson, N. Shannon, D. MoFarlane, E. Odlin, M. Chamberlain; tiger lily, Molly _ Esson; tulips, D, Redgrave, A. Phillips, O. Hazelton, J. Kawston, and C. Wylie; poraseltia, Gwen Swinson; buttercups and daisies, a charming octette of the times, J. Kemp, R. Topp, B. Sargent, A. Eaton. D, Mazengarb, K. Sargent, M. Martin, and P. Alexander. Holly was Christine Brown, a very clever little dancer. The flower frocks which were designed under the direction rf Miss Carwell Cooke were very realistic, and were made by Miss March and painted by Mr . Swain. Among the cast of “Hiawatha,” Miss R. Atkinson, as Nokomes, Hiawatha’s grandmother, was one of the best characters. Mr J. Pearson played Hiawatha, and Miss Mavis Halliday was his beautiful and tragic bride (the famine and death scenes were finely enacted); other characters being taken by Mr G. MeMitcliell as the father; Mr J. Caugbley, Mr Norman Byrne (who was the singer at the feast), Miss If, Stocker, Miss E. Pharazvn, Miss K. Howie, and Misses Blacklock, Bock. Nicbolls. Scaife, and Watsons, Messrs _ Kirker, Pearson, and Sellens a» Indian women and warriors. The Indian dresses, designed by Misses M. Richmond and Watts, were quite characteristic, and a capable orchestra under Mr Andrew Williams rendered the incidental music. Miss Nora Gray was at the piano.