RECREATION WEEK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1939, Page 7

RECREATION WEEK

MASTERTON CELEBRATION

ENCOURAGEMENT OF FREEDOM. , OBSERVATIONS BY MEMBER FOR MASTERTON. “The spirit of the physical welfare and. recreation movement in New Zealand is as wide as the community," said Mr J. Robertson, member for Masterton. in an interview. “Last year we had a Fitness Week, this year we celebrate Recreation week, but each are equally expressive of the spirit of the same national movement. “The National Recreation Association of America express the idea as follows: ■Recreation is an expression of the inner life of a people, of what the people really are and desire. It is more important in recreation than in other fields that there bb the greatest encouragement of freedom. variation, creativeness, originality.’

"In Masterton,’’ said Mr Robertson, “these four qualities will be found in the programme for recreation week which provides for games, athletic sports, physical drill, music, dancing, etc. With the shadow of the realities of war hovering over us and in face of the uncertainties of the future, we at least can show our determination to encourage’ a knowledge of the freedom, the creativeness and originality which is inherent in and characteristic of that democracy for the maintenance of which we now find ourselves at war. May Recreation Week in Masterion be a successful, and memorable one.” TERRITORIAL DISPLAY.' ATTRACTION ON WEDNESDAY EVENING. The Masterton Territorial units' contribution to the Recreation Week programme to be held in the Municipal Hall on Wednesday evening will be a display by a fully equipped Lewis gun section in fighting formation and rifle exercises by recruits. Corporal A. W. Thompson, who has been putting in hard work training the Lewis gun section, is deserving of the highest praise, for the smart team he has turned out. The anti-aircraft training and ground drill has reached a high standard. ( Corporal P. Wingfield, who will take the rifle exercises has also a smart section, and the enthusiasm shown by the, recruits is most encouraging. “LUCKY DlP.’’ OPERA HOUSE TOMORROW. Last week’s production of “Lucky Dip" is expected to furnish a contribution of at least £2O to the Mayor’s Emergency Fund.- The decision of the Recreation Week Committee to apply its takings to the same purpose furnishes further opportunity to the Little Theatre Society to assist in the augmenting of the ‘fund. That this further assistance will be very valuable is evidenced by the large numbers of persons who have expressed the intention of attending Saturday evening’s repetition of “Lucky Dip," either because they had the misfortune to miss the previous presentation, or because, having seen it once, they are determined to revel in its hilarity a se-' cond time.

To those who delight in humorous situations skilfully handled, Mr Neal Irwin’s portrayal of the successful author, Adrian Hinchliffe, will be- entirely satisfying. His comedy scenes with Mrs Jordan (in the part of Mrs Carrington-Horne) are really funny, and each of the pair x plays so well up to the other that they form an ideal comedy team. Mr Irwin also proves himself adept in extracting fun from a telephone. Mr Cunningham's performance as Higham, the pompous butler, is a cameo in humour. Higham, as portrayed by Mr Cunningham, succeeds in preserving his accustomed dignity under the most trying circumstances.

Mi - Geo Sykes and Mr Jack Mackay give a very successful representation of members of the police force, though those of us who occasionally offend against traffic regulations and the like may detect, under their bullying methods, an unexpected suggestion of kindliness. All the performers owe a great deal to the skilful "make-up” work of Mr Fred Price and Mrs Lillian McKenzie. It was due to these two that, at the previous performances, every player absolutely "looked” his or her part. Everything points to a highly successful performance on Saturday evening, with a crowded Opera House. ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. NEXT TUESDAY’S ATTRACTION. The Recreation Week Concert to or held on Tuesday evening in the Opera House by the Masterton Orchestral Society is one that should be of exceptional interest. There will be more variety than is usual in a concert b) this type. The programme will include two vocalists instead of one, both singers well-known in Masterton in the persons of Miss Jamieson and Mi Wales. In addition there will be a novelty in the shape of a trio for violin, cello and piano, the respective performers being Mr Larsen (leader ol the orchestra), Mr E. F. Wilson, and the conductor, Mr C. W. Kerry. The orchestral items are largely request numbers, including the evergreen “Largo" by Handel, a selection from H.M.S. Pinafore,” the overture ol "Maritana," and /the hilarious "Toj Symphony” of Haydn’s. The lattei work breaks all established ■ tradition, concerning classical music, being scored for such odd instruments as rattles, nightingale, quail, cuckoo, aric. other surprising means for making music. It is no mean feat for an orchestra to get through the work or. account of its laughter-provoking qualities; indeed, it must be heard tc be believed, so totally different is it from what one expects from a classic composer. But when the composer is that arch-humorist. Haydn, anything might happen, and when we find Haydn in his most mischievous mood everything does happen.