"THE PRINCESS."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 202, 15 August 1908, Page 2

"THE PRINCESS."

fit. Gary's Hall • was packed last night, when "The Princess" was produced by the High Scuool girls. It was nu ambitious choice, "The Princess" (adapted from Tennyson) is written in thy language of the poets, and the £np> litiU of the poets is, to the preseatday generation almost a foreign tongue, ihus, "The Princess," is not easy of presentation. When it is taken into account that in this case the juvenile performers received no support from seenury (the same set being used throughout the varied scenes) and that even tlie "star" parts were in tn e hands of juvenile amateurs, it will be recognised that th« effort was one that might easily have daunted artists in the best llights of the profession of the stana, The words, however, were woll spoken, particularly so in the last scene "The Reconciliation," between the Prince and Princess Ida (Misses I. Foote and M. iiirton), There was, naturally enough, u lack of force and expression noticeable at times, but it was fair to assume I from the performance Uiat a little more familiarity with the boards would speedily remove any fault of this nature. The improvising of a few foot. lights would-hava tended to heighten the effect of the very tasteful drossing. But, taking into consideration the faet that this was a school performance the acting was indeed good. Many of the situations were very pleasing, and the enunciation in almost every instance was good. The incidental music was very capably supplied by the- Misses linker and Mr. Baker; Miss Bewley '' ■■i tJi« overture, and the entr'acts by Miss Douglas and tire THisses Maker. The following was the east:—The Princess, I. Foote; lady Blanche, V. Billing; Lady Psycho, Mr. BuUard, Melissa, M. Ambury; Violet, B. Stoddart; the Prince, M. Kirtonj Cyril and CTorian [friends of too Prince), G. Skinner and A. Olcmance; King of the Northern Empire (father of the Prince), E. A'ickers; King Gama (Ida's father) Z. Bayly; Arac, A. Glccson; twin brothers (Gam Arao, A. Glceson; Gama's sons (twin brothers), E. Spencer and E. Gilbert; and Lady Blanche's and Lady's Psyche's Students.