“THE OLD DAYS”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 60, 21 December 1935, Page 6

“THE OLD DAYS”

AN HISTORICAL PAGEANT. EPISODES IN ENGLAND’S PROGRESS. BRILLIANT SPECTACLE STAGED. AN OUTSTANDING PRESENTATION Six episodes in the history of England were presented on the Ashburton Domain Oval this afternoon in a brilliant spectacle that outrivals in scope and character anything of the kind that has been seen in Ashburton previously. , ~ . 'Styled “Old Days in England,” the pageant was presented by 200 playeis, all members of Women’s Institutes; 160 of them came from South Canterbury and 40 from Mid-Canterbury. Characters stepped out of the past and paraded before some hundreds of onlookers in a procession of episodes that can only be described as a succession of splendour. Accuracy of detail in costuming was a feature of the pageant and to ensure this accuiacy, the greater part of the costumes were imported from England at a cost of well over £2OO. This is only the second, historical pageant on anything ap-,' preaching this scale that the Dominion has seen, the pageant having been given in Timaru two weeks ago, and the spectacle was aided by the gloriously bright weather which prevailed. The Oval made a wonderfully impressive setting for these pages from history, and the spectators were highly complimentary of the whole scene. Throughout the staging of the episodes there were scenes of great beauty and the dignity with which the players undertook their parts was remarked upon. Every section of the progress of the respective groups as they emerged from the trees and converged on the central “stage” was watched with closest interest and the splashes or colour on all hands helped to make the afternoon a memorable one for all who witnessed the pageant.

A Colourful Climax. Spectacle followed spectacle, working up to a climax of wondrous colour and beauty. In the centre sat Britannia, a majestic figure, arrayed in helmet and flowing robes, and armed with shield and trident, while around were grouped kings, queens, courtiers, soldiers, peasant folk, representatives of varying periods in the history of England from the time of the Roman occupation down to the reign of King Charles the Second. The grouping had hardly been completed when hearty applause broke out. Even the most reserved observer was compelled to express appreciation of a scene of striking grandeur. The groups dispersed, eacli paying homage to the “Queen of Honour,” and as they proceeded from the “stage” they were again roundly applauded. The staging of the pageant was a tremendous task, and too much credit cannot be given the producers of the various episodes, and all concerned in them. Months of hard work and conscientious endeavour were undoubtedly necessary for the successful presentation of such an undertaking, and all tho more credit is due when it is remembered that the players were all women and children, drawn from widely scattered country centres. Time and expense appeared to be no object, however, for ail were intent on making the production a thing of joy and beauty. That they succeeded need not be stressed. All concerned undoubtedly had their reward in the pleasure they themselves derived, and the pleasure they gave to others. All the speeches made by the characters were relayed through a series of loud speakers and tho spectators were able to follow each phase of the pageant with ease. Producers and Organisers. Much of the success of the pageant was due to the organisation that went into the preliminaries and to the great work of the producers, of whom there was one for each group. They spent many weeks preparing the players. The producers were as follow: Episode 1, Ashburton, Mrs W. J. Minogue; Episode 2, Waimate, Mrs N. J. Friel; Episode 3, Temuka, Mrs E. Blackmore; Episode 4, Fairlie, Mrs D, Barnes; Episode 5, Geraldine, Mrs S. Unwin ; Episode 6, St. Andrew’s, Mrs W. E. Miils.

Apart from the producers, a great deal of work in organising the pageant was done by Miss E. L. J. Davies (pageant master), Mrs L. E. Williams (president of tho South Canterbury Federation), Mrs F. Curtis (president of tho Mid-Canterbury Federation), Mrs E. Chisnall (treasurer of the South Canterbury Federation) and Miss T. Williams (secretary ot the South Canterbury Federation). In the preparatory work for the staging of the pageant in Ashburton, most of the work fell on the slioulders of Mesdames Minogue, Curtis and Constable (secretary).

In the property and'frocldng departments of the Ashburton group, Mrs Flatman was responsible for the manufacture of the spears and shields used, as well as the general properties, while tho frocking was the responsibility of Mrs Amos, who had the assistance of Mrs J. W. Wood.

A sympathetic background of music was supplied by the Ashburton Silver Band (under Mr E. R. Hopwood),. The arrival on the scene of characters and groups of characters was heralded by appropriate music, and the Band contributed in no small measure to the successful conclusion of one episode and the opening of another. The episodes were presented in the following order:— ‘‘Sunrise.” (Ashburton Group.) Characters: Roycal, the young chief and lover (Miss Nanci Norman), Corvagyl (Mrs F. Curtis), Druid (Mrs H. J. Constable), ISecond Druid (Mirs F. Peter), Ailblie (Miss Betty Furby), Roman soldiers (Mesdames A. ( Mclnnes, Chambers, C. Bell, Shemmin, Misses G. Shearer and E. Lemon), Temple attendants (Mesdames W. J. Quantock,

Roffey,'Misses F. Rickard and V. Bell), Ancient Britons (Mesdames Shearer,, Austin, McCall, Meikle, A. Clark, Hunter, E. Bell, Meikle, Mcßae, Rawstorn, Dellow, Scott, Goodrich, N. Quantock, L. Hood, Misses Maidens, P. and J. Clark, Houston, Comyns, Dellow, Evans, Duff and V. Bell. Mrs E. A. Amos was wardrobe mistress and Mrs 11. G. Flatman property mistress. This episode presented a realistic picture of the period when the priests, the Druids, held sway over the people in spite of the iron rule exercised by the Romans. Its “Stonehenge” setting was remarkably true to character. “Wilfrid the Christian." (Waimate Group.) Characters: St Wilfrid (Miss Meyer), Edda (Mrs W.. Hayman), Cedric (Miss A. Alder), Hildalith (Mrs W. Fletcher), Wufstan (Miss Marion Neal), Kyncswitha (Miss Elsa Meyer), Kyneburga (Miss H. Shears), Saxulf (Miss Maimie Neal), Eldred (Mrs Macgregor), Wangrit (Miss C. Smillie), Freda (Miss Mercer), Saxons (Misses G. Palmer, Fiona Friel, Nancy Wilson, June Itiordan, D. Morton, M. Morton, A. Meyer, M. Shepherd, M. Mercer, Oloxenshaw, Teresa Farrell, J. Fletcher, A. Bell, D. Marshall, Alwyn Officer and Pauline friel, and Mesdames Kearton, W. Hassall, J. Heath, J. R. Wright, G. A. Murray, F. Bailey, Hoskins and Coulbaclc, and Master John Fletcher). Miss J. Meredith was wardrobe mistress and Mrs D. Officer property mis-

tress. This scene dealt with the age when, the southern Saxons were suffering extreme poverty after years of drought and crop failure, a period about the middle of the seventh centuiy. “Alfred the King.” (Temuka Group.) Characters: King Alfred (Mrs Andrew Guild), Goodie Grimbald (Miss Rita Twomey), Cedric, Goodie’s son (Miss Ruth Mclnnis), Elsa (Miss Dorothy Lyons) and Sldroo (Mrs R. Turnbull), followers of the King. Mrs \\ r . J. Keys was wardrobe mistress. , The story of-King Alfred and the burnt cakes was well told in this scene, which went through smoothly and with great appeal. “The First Prince of Wales.” (Fail-lie Group). Characters— King Edward L. (Mrs A. Mackenzie), Royal Nurse (Mrs S. i±a - ton), Welsh Chiefs (Misses I. Lyoi and Mrs Barnes), Sword Bearer M s Glass), Master Griffith Lloyd, (Mis Latimer), Clerk (Mrs Crichton), Clerk (Miss Whatman), Retainers (Mesdames Braddick, Neilson Rapley, and Whitehead), Royal Pages (Misses J. Manchester, J. Latimer, and B. Crichton), Ladies-in-Waiting (Misses Thoipe), Welsh People (Mesdames Riddle, Hammond, Waring, Roberts, Major A. Bray, and Irving, and Misses C. Macdonald, Caswell, P. Brown, W. Waters, E Kidd, Binnie, Foden and A. Gallagher, Mrs R. A. Latimer was wardrobe mistress. . Colour introduced into tins group made it more spectacular than those that had gone before. It was an impressive scane of the presentation of the infant prince to the Welsh people.

“The Sea Queen." (Geraldine Group). Characters—Queen Elizabeth (Miss Cruickshank), Francis Drake (Mrs C. Bennett), Drake’s Sailors, Jack (Miss O. Hughes), Will (Miss Blalyston), Harry (Mrs Firman), Pliineas (Mrs Wilcox), Nicholas, a blind man (Miss Tindall), Nick, his grandson (Miss Wilkes), Usher (Mrs Ritchie); Ladies-in-Waiting (Mesdames G. Macdonald and Lewis), Halberdiers (Mrs Mitchelmore, Misses May, Williams, Vincent, Mesdames Baguley and Broad), Sailors (Misses E. Thornley, D. Worner, D. Maister, and Mrs Armstrong), Girls and others in crowd (Mesdames Worner, Anderson and Morgan, and Misses P. Brenton, E. Brenton, J. Vincent, M. Kiiibb, K.,Flower, B. Mitclielmore, Muff and Morgan). Mrs A. G. Brown was wardrobe mistress. Characterisation was the feature of this episode oTthe days of the piratical rovings of Francis Drake, .and there were several spectacles in the scene. “Britannia." (St. Andrew’s Group). Characters—Jean ltoettiers (Miss E.. Dash), Rose (Miss' M. Hutton), Ned (Miss J. Munro), Blue Maid (Miss M. Collier), Green Maid (Miss M. Coup), Pink Maid (Miss M. Russell), Primrose Maid (Miss A. Stowell), Lilac Maid (Miss C. Bell), Lady Frances Stewart (Miss D. McManus), Old Kate (Mrs Arden), King Charles 11. (Mrs H. Miles), Pages (Misses B. Gray/ B. Midgley and K. O’Boyle), Jester (Miss G. Porter), Market people and citizens (Mesdames Squire, L.'Bishop, G. Smith, Wallace, McTague, L. Bell, P. Campbell, Hopkins, R. B. Williams, J. Newbiggen, Collier, and Moyle, and Misses E. Smith, A. Gregan, D. Bell, L. M. Thompson, Joy Bennett, C. Woodhouse, E. Gray, K. Bishop, M. Ford, (J. Stowell, M. Weeks and R. Beattie). Miss A. Bcgg was wardrobe mistress, and Mrs G'. Cocks property mistress. This group provided a fitting climax to the pageant, for at its close all groups combined in paying homage to “Britannia, our Queen of Honour!"