CONCERT SUCCESS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 186, 31 March 1932, Page 6

CONCERT SUCCESS

VARIED PROGRAMME PROVIDES OUTSTANDING EVENING'S ENTERTAINMENT k ♦ • EFFORT FOR DENTAL CLINIC The concert held last evening in the Lyric Theatre under the auspices of the Rotorua Primary Schools' Dental Clinic Committee proved ' one of the most outstanding concert successes that Rotorua has ever had the pleasure of witnessing. The Rotorua Orphans' Orchestra, which played the overture and the entracte was.decidedly popular, the en tracte being especially well received. Mr. J. Buchan gave as the second item omthe programme an exceptionally well rendered vocal solo followed after repeated demands, by an encore. A humorous Scotch item, entitled '"Duke McKay," rendered in a most convincing manner by Mr Wilkie, who is visiting Rotorua for the express purpose of taking part' in the concert, proved very popular, an encore being demanded. Miss Grace CameronJohnson played a haunting little i "Chanson" followed by a love song, | which called forth much admiration, i her really exeellent playing being an | acquisition to the programme. A visitor to Rotorua, Miss Winifred j Watson, then sang "In the Way that the Easterns Do," following with' an encore that was equally well received. Next came a one-act play, Miss Jean Pearce and Miss Joan Hodgson, Messrs. A. Gosling, A. M. Darling, E. G. Guy, J. Hamilton and C. Casey, comprising the cast. Miss Pearce acted her part particularly well, while Mr Casey in the title role, by his very immobility and intriquing silence excited much comment. During the evening Miss Minna Kronfeld sang two songs, of which "You, in a Gondola" was the most popular, Miss Gwenneth La Trobe Hill and Mr Hudson Shaw, of Auckland, impressed by their clever and well studied rendering of a particularly well su'ted dialogue, "Might Have Been," in which Mr. Shaw took the part of a wandering artisti father, acting his part with the exact admixture of sophistication and romance demanded by the character. Miss La Trobe Hill, as his wondering grow-ing-up daughter was very well cast. Miss Margaret McKenzie then gave two very well rendered and popular pianoforte solos, her clever playing doing full justice to the difficult pieces chosen.

A mixed quartette comprising Misses Kronfeld and Davies and Messrs Buchan and Foster then sang "Goodnight Beloved," a song particularly suited to Miss Kronfeld's superbly controlled soprano, and Mr. Buchan's easy baritone. The singers were recalled. The popular folk dances, featuring nine of the Junior High School girls, proved as great an attraction as ever, the girls performing with a precision and rhythm that did credit to diligent coaching. Mr. Wilkie, accompanied by loud applause appeared, giving a brilliant rendering of "The Suitors of Sophia," imitating, the dandy, the curate and the Coste'r to perfection. So well was his effort received that -ha was recalled to give a humorous rendering of "Senorita," and as a further encore, a soap-box oration on "Equal division of property." Before the final item, His Worship the Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson, briefly thanked all present for their support and expressed the gratitude of the Dental Clinic Committee to Miss M. McKenzie and her many willing helpers. He apologised for the absence of Miss D. Thompson who was unable to appear. It was only after considerable effort on the part of the primary school committee that permiss'on had been gained to establish a dental clinic in Rotorua. A committee comprising representatives of the various schools of the district had been set up and efforts had already been commenced toward raismg the necessary funds. He hoped that the exeellent support accorded at the concert would be fortheoming on future occasions. In the final item, a sketch, "The Glorious Fourth," Miss Jean Pearce, Verena Holland, Ailsa McKenzie and N. Holland and Messrs A. M. Darling, E. G. Guy, A. J. Gosling and R. Young, proved themselves every bit as entertaining as in the preeeding play, Miss .y. Holland and Mr Darling? as the principal characters being outstanding. The programme closcd with the singing of the National Anthem.