SCHOOL CONCERT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 396, 3 December 1932, Page 5

SCHOOL CONCERT

A MARKED SUCCESS A FULL HOUSE ENJOYS A VERY FINE PROGRAMME CLEVER PRODUCTION A bumper ho.use and unstinted applause las't night should have gone a long way toward assuring the promoters of the Rotorua High School annual concert that their efforts to provide a good programme had met with appreciation. Apart from the fact that on all such occasions there is a natural bias in favour of the performers, the applause in almost every case was thoroughly well merited. It was abundantly evident that both teachers and pupils had put in a lot of really hard work to attain the standard of perfection presented, and the result must have been very pleasing indeed, to the parents and all others interested in the school. It is only those who have been intimately acquainted with such work who can thoroughly appreciate the amount of patient effort that has to be put into the production of a programme such as the audience enjoyed last night, and those responsible deserve a • f ull measure of praise. The whole conception of the entertainment was good, in that, besides providing an opportunity for pupils to display their talents, it also presented a variety which found general favour with all sections of the large audience. The School Orchestra opened each section of the programme — the first half with a seleetion from II Trovatore and the second with Schubert's "Lilac Time." In both instances the performances were most creditable, shov/ing that the school has mus'cal talent which has been carefully cultiva'ced by Mr. J. Buchan and Miss Cameron Johnson. Under the baton of Mr. Buchan the school choir also gave very pleasing renderings of "The Soldiers'- Chorus" and "The

Anvil Chorus" from II Trovatore, and in the second half the "Night Ridei's," a Hungarian folk tune and the "Huntsman's Chorus" (Vcrdi). The harmony and phrasing in all the selections evidenced careful and patient training. The dance items, arranged by Miss McDonald, were a very eharming feature of the night's entertainment. The phantasy, in which "The Toy Shop Comes to Life," was a very pretty conception. The pai-ts were taken as follows: Fairy Queen, Joan Thomas. Fairy Sunbeam, Anne Brown; Fairy Twinkletoes, Edna Freneh. Dolls — Rose Marie, Beryl Martindale; Mary Jane, Millicant McCormick; Belinda, Joan Hogan; Bettina, Joan Hay. Aeroplands. — May Johnson, Jessie Roberts; Jimmie Mollison, Doris Ckam-bei-s; Kingsford-Smith, Doreen Bax'nes. Clowns— Jumbo, Gladys Jones; Flip Flop, Fanny Shuter; Flop Flip, Joan Currie; Joey. Phillis McKenzie. Columbine, Melva Stembridgc. Soldiers, Barbara Holland, Valerie Carnachan, Joan Robertson, Joan Martindale; Mickey Mouse, Joyce Musgrave; Mx*. Edward Bear, Lillas Richardson. The story showed the different toys conxing to life when the faix'ies danced and joining in the revels. With lighting effects and pretty dresses the phantasy was indeed delightful but the dancing would have been helped by better music. The gramophone hardly lived up to the high standard set by the producex-s. In the second half a very pretty rninuet was staged to the words of Aubrey Dowdon: "And Grandpapa and Grandmama had never really n*iet, when Grandpapa kissed Grandmama in the second miiiuet," Grandma was played by Melva Stexnbridge and Grandpa by Joan Thomas and others taking part in the dance were Joan Hay, Bai'bara Holland, Joan Hogan, Gladys Jones, Edna Freneh,- Dox'is Chanxhers, Lillas Richardson and Joyce Musgrave. It was a dainty little production and won hcarty applause. Miss McDonald and Miss Simmcrs exc'elled themselves in their design of the costumes for the dances. Other deeidedly pleasing musical contx-ibutions were: Solo and chorus. "The Song of the Flag." Ruth Holland; quax'tettes, "Ye Banks and Braes," and "Night Hymn at Sea," V. Aubertin, V. Cunningham, D. MeAdam, J. McKenzie, R. Holland, A. Paxdane, M. McKenzie, D. Searr, K. Goudie, B. Chaplin, H. Harxison, H. Paul and V. Musgrave. "The Canadian Boat Song" and "Lullaby" were also • sung by V. Aubertin, V, Cunningham, D. McAdam, J. McKenzie, J. Alexandex-, R. Holland, A. Paxdane, M. McKenzie, D. Searx*, K. Goudie, L. Simpson, B. Chaplin, H. Harrison, IL Paul, V. Musgrave and C. Randerson. Part song, "See Our Oars With Feathered Spray," junior girls and boys. A Brown, a remarkably capable pupil of Miss Cameron Johnson, concluded the musical section with two violin solo, "Rapid Dance," (Ilandel) and Gavotte (Gossie). The exhibitions of physical drill by the gixds and gymnastics by the boys were deservedly popular contxdbutions and their teachers, Miss 'McDonald and Mr. Piteaithly are to be congratulated- xxpon the- hit they' made. The programme coxxcluded with a slietch adapted fronx Dicken's Njch-

olas Nickleby and entitled 'The- 6id Gentleman Next Door." It created much amusement, especially among the junior xxxembers of the audience. The characters were: Mrs. Nicklebyj Betty Keane; Kate Nickleby, June ,McGinley; Old Gentleman, F. Oulds; Keeper, E. Dawson. The stage management of the programme, was in the capable hands of ^Ir. IV^'H. Evans, gnd he -is to he complxxnented upon the generally high standard o'f the whole performance.