ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 58, 30 August 1911, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

•'THE HAPPY FAMILY." This was the title of a very pretty operetta happily staged last night by the children of the \V est End school to a very happy audience, which completely filled the Theatre ltoyal. "The Happy Family" introduces to our notice many of our childhood's friends in a new setting. First of all, there is the Old Woman that lived in a shoe, surrounded by her numerous family in quite a happy mood, for not only is it mother's birthday, but the family has just moved out of the old-fashioned residence, "the shoe," into a more modern cottage. Miss Keys is a charming "Mother," and sustains the role throughout admirably. She flr9t voices her regret at leaving the shoe, in a song, "A Long, Long Tune ago," to which the children reply with a chorus, well rendered, in which they express some contempt for that oldfashioned shoe. Mother has a presentiment that several absent members of the family are about to return on that particular day, and so they do, in the persons of the heroes and heroines familiar to us in our nursery rkymes and those tales so dear to our earfj years, although, perhaps, we were unaware of their relationship to the shoe lady. The first child to appear is the man with the lamp, "Aladdin." John Medway impersonates him, and narrates his wonderful adventures musically in a solo " When Bent on Adventure." For this he received an' encore, as he did in the duet "I am your Sister, fet," with Nellie Hawker, a dainty damgel, who represented the young lady that the spider frightened. Other old friends that the audience was very pleased to greet were "Sindbad," Raymond Cocker; "Marjory Daw," Millicent Noreross; "Bluebeard," Harry J. Gilbert; "Dorothy Draggletoil," Nellie White! "Robinson Crusoe," David Syldes; "Friday," Arthur Blancheti; "Cinderella and her sisters, Grace and Patience," Olga, Wallach, Gladys Gilbert and Alice George; "AH Baba," John Staite; "Fairy," EWe Campbell; "Goodv Two Shoes," Oissie Hovle: " "Knight," Allan Mills; "Midshipmite," Seon Brown. Each and every litle actor' # and actress sang his or her introductory piece charmingly, and the little la die* were all rewarded -with handsome bouquets by an appreciative audience. Bach performer also received well merited encores. The following descriptive solos were rendered':-—"Since firwt I left my early home;" Sindbad; "For many years my life was spent," Marjory Daw; "Don't let me cause you any alarm," Bluebeard; "When the heart is and' and sore," Dorothy Draggletail; "I ran off to sea," RoMnson Crusoe: "I was a. black savage," Friday; B How«lvi» the best policy," Goody Two Shoes; duet, "Are you my sister Dorothy," by Miss Draggletail and Bluebeardi; recitation, "My name i» AH Baba," Ali flaba; trio, "Children should all agree," Cinderella, Grace and Patience. The ehnvses were very well balanced, and tV< young voices enunciated even* word so perfectly that it was easy for the audi- , enee to follow the story. The more effective of the choruses were: "We nre tho crew of the Nancy Lee," "See Saw, Marjory Daw," "The Huntsman," "Jinrfe Jingle/' "New friends mav be false friends," "The Fairy Rang," and "Good Night." The stage management was excellent, every detail having been carefully attended to and provided for. The children were wwll trained, -and answered, their cues admirably. Only one slight contretemps occurred, viz., when RobinRon Crusoe arrived simultaneously with the telegram announcing his intended arrival; Still, instances of this have been known in business life. H. Evefcts as "Tip," the telegraph messenger, born a striking resemblance to a well-known borough official, and his careful attention to bicycle bell and lamp brought down the house. The grouping was very effective, and the dressing also was strikingly beautiful, presenting a kaleidoscopie effect during many of the movements that was delightful. In all. about 120 children took part, and at times all were on the stage together, and the fact that everything •passed off win-font a hitch speak* volumes for their training bv Mrs. Dowling and Mr. Bary. In fact, only performers as well disciplined as 'school children could have done so well. There were many effective swnes. Perhaps the prettiest was "Mariory Daw" on her swing, which was brilliantly illuminated by colored electric lights." TV came* and choruses "Captive Maiden!" "Blind man's Buff," and the tug-of-war between the Sailors and the Thieves were prettily arranged. Bluebeard and Friday pro- - vided the light comedy, and kept the audience in a happy humor with their "business," the former being "ferociously" amusing. The interest of the audience was held from thp raising of the curtain on the first act to ifs fall at the conclusion of the third, and the final* ' for spectacular effect was worthy of professionals, many of the 190 performers going through Ihe intricate evn- ; lutions of a country dance 'beneath beautiful floral arches held by twelve , daintily dressed damsels. Miss Dowling, , at the piano, provided the necessary accompaniments, whilst tho intervals were | enlivened by orchestral selections from Mrs. Dowling, sen., and Misses E. and M. Dowling. Mr. Brooks' experience of ! stage management was of much ns--1 sistance to the committop, wno are also indebted to Messrs. Milne and Brooks ! for the.colored light effect. • The operetta will be Teneated tn--1 night, and if merit counts there should 1 be another crowded house. Mrs. Woods' ' orchestra will nerform during the inter- > vals, whilst the Garrison Band will : render a few selections outsjjk the for the colored light effecte.