"CINDERELLA" AT PUKEKOHE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 372, 3 May 1918, Page 1

"CINDERELLA" AT PUKEKOHE.

Talented Young Performers

There was a large and appreciative audience present at the Premier Hall, Pukekohe, on Tuesday evening last when " Cinderella " was presented by the Buckland School children in aid of the funds of the Pukekohe and Buckland branches of the Women's Patriotic League.

Prior to the start of the entertainment Mr A. B. Barter (Deputy Mayor) addressed the gathering and explained that the aim of the management was directed to the augmentation of the funds of the Pukekohe and Buckland branches of the Women's Patriotic League for the relief of the suffering of our " boya " at the Front.

The opening proceedings took the form of a patriotic tableaux by the members of St, James (Presbyterian) Bible Class in which " Britannia," represented by Miss Nellie Perkins, was supported by the various branches of the Army and Navy and the countries of the Allies, the scene with a Maori girl and other representatives, all in Appropriate costume, with the Union Jack as a background, producing a pretty effect. The chorus singing by the Company, led by " Britannia," gained great applause from the audience. A well-executed pianoforte solo by Miss Millicent" Taylor entitled "A Study in Black Notes" followed and was well received.

" Cinderella " was then presented, In the opening scene (Cinderella's Kitchen) Miss Pipi Wily as " Cinderella " at once showed that she possessed natural gifts as an actress. vVhen in the kitchen cleaning her shoes and later discarding her poor dress for her silk attire there was that absence of self-consciousness which enabled her to put her best self into her work. Miss Gwen Sweet as " The Fairy Godmother " fulfilled her pait cieditably. The appearance of the fairies and elves in white produced applause and the part these played showed that all had received careful and painstaking training. In act two the scene opened with an apartment in the palace adjacent to the ball-room and the part of " Papa " by Miss Edith Haire was carried out with a gracious yet natural manner. In her poise and speech there was a sincerity, which compelled one to admire her anl although her role was not

perhaps the most difficult she carried it out well. Miss Edna Wright and Miss Una Wily took the characters of Cinderella's sisters most creditably. The former's enunciation of speech and forcibleness of manner—at times even showing an assumed passion—singled her out as a born actress especially in heavy drama. As " Prince Charming " Miss Doris Avery was in her element, her nobility of manner and dignity being well shown in the character. The appearance of a number of boys attired in green playing " leap frog "in Act ill, where the scene was laid in the garden outside Cinderella's House, caused much amusement Miss Ruby Steele and Miss Polly Todd as Courtiers acted

their respective parts well as also dit Miss Myrtle Wright as Lady Guy. Little Mh* Myrtle Neale carried out her dutios as ITerald commend ably, while in the final chorus when all the artistes were assembled to sing the " Sweet Cinderella " chorus there was once again evidence of the careful training and completeness characteristic of the whole piece. Mr and Mrs H. H. P. Wily as trainers of this youthful company deserve every thanks, for not only was the production of interest but it served to materially assist the patriotic effort on behalf of our soldier " boys" Those who acted as fairies and elves were : Fairies : Glynn Waterhouse, Alice Murray, Jessie Ferguson, Kathleen Piggott, Evelyn Rogers, Vera Melville, Dulcie Wright, Caroline Wolfe, May Smith : Elves : Basil King, Noel Gummer, Graham Hamilton, James Steele, Lionel Piggott and Eric Ferguson. At the conclusion of the performance Mr Barter expressed on behalf of the company the th»nka due to the promoters and especially to Mr and Mrs Wily for their assistance in providing such an enjoyable evening. The " Cinderella " arises then paraded down the hall with the object of collecting money on behalf of the tied Cross works and the collection realised £o. A musical monologue by Mr Jonas, with pianoforte accompaniment by Miss Taylor, was so well received that he bad to respond to a recall and his rendering of an elocutiouary item, " Devil-may-care," received well merited applause. Thanks are duo to all who assisted to promote such an enjoyable evening. Mention should particularly bo made of the services rendered by 'Mrs .). M. Baxter as Secretary.