NICKI PLAYS GOLDILOCKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 22

NICKI PLAYS GOLDILOCKS.

(By SHIRLEY BISHOP.)

I DIDN'T think myself that the idea was so hot, but that didn't prevent me from throwing, myself into it with my usual fervour. It was Eleanor's brain-wave. She, thought it would be nice to have the children put on a play by way of finishing off the school term. And since she had enough enthusiasm' for all of us she undertook to bear the brunt of the work. The rehe? rsals were to take place at her house, she was to supervise the casting, the costumes, the direction, and so on. Michael tried to ease himself out, but without any luck. Eleanor insisted that (because of his architectural ability) he was to make the props. And to-night at eight we were meeting at Eleanor's house to decide on a suitable play. The mothers had been asked, on this occasion, to come without their young hopefuls. Eleanor, as chairman, opened the meethig, with an impassioned plea to the ladies to cast off for just this evening their roles of mothers.

She urged them to take an unbiased and critical view of their children's limitations. ..Not every child could be giyen* a major role. The children would be cast in their roles according to their ability—were they agreed! Were they not! By nine o'clock things were well und*r wky There was some dissension about toe choice of the play, but nothing compered with the racket that followed a* to whom was to be given the.vkiad. VEach mother was convinced, thatit the pley was to be..cairr.ied,:pff with .thejnaximum amount should play the ;it was a flop, they wlrited then to let some other child,i>bij tl»e lead.-. no longer a favoentisHt—the stakes.'wire-^gh'er?;lhin>.tliatr*rt. : .,;, : ; .;.' An,d, so on iSti' ;^.^^^^ wire on the frayingpojnt, and .everyone -Sgot into everyone' else's hair. It ;waa ; that th,e question should meeting would be held *t|ie; day.; ■• ■ ■ - Eleanor took the ladies to the door, assuring them that even if her Nick* were to play the lead there would *tiil be a place in the sun for every child. Sher.would so direct the play that ev<sry role would be a major one. .Aβ eoon as she had seen them safely off Eleanor flopped into a chair. "Phew! Did you ever see such a bunch" she said. "Can yon imagine me directing a play with Jane's imbecile Margaret in the lead, or that other -lolt of a kid—what's her name—Sylvia or something" r.f'Nofso long as there's a drop of blood. nV 6iir. Nieki's veins," said Michael.

"You may well say that, Michael"— and she appealed to me— "Dorothy, put aside all feelings A friendship that you have, and tell wb quite franklyjprfio you know of one chiM who can - hold a candle to Xicki when ;t comee to intelligence, to character, to spirit, to —to almost anything? TelJ me," she urged. I caught Michael's glance: "Go on, tell her," it said. ■ Friendship, I thought, what crimes are committed in thy name; and. I replied, "You're quite right, Eleanor." ' She'shot Michael a triumphant glance. "And now let's get down to this play. What do you think of Goldilocks and the Three Bears We might make some changes in the story. I think that Goldilocks being chewed up by the three bears is a bit grim." "It is a bit grim," agreed Michael. "You might reverse the procedure by having Goldilocks, which I presume ;"« being played by- our Xicki, chew up t'ze .tghree'.hears.. . ', ' *"tt" would give it a sort!, of realistic touch, if you know what I,mean. Nic-ki could step into a role like, that without a rehearsal. Don't you think 5... Dorothy? Go on, put aside all feeling of friendship that you have—tell me?" ' Eleanor gave him a withering look.-- ; "Or perhaps the story of the fa : .-y princess and the frog," she went oh. "You know the one—where the fairy princess taps the frog on the head witii her wand and transforms him into a prlneeV Michael let out a loud guffaw. "I" Wouldn't take ; a chance on that, iSlcsanor," he laughed. '"Not unless you givejtlte fairjr princess a wand of cotton batteiu ' Because if I know'our there'll-be no tapping. There will; ba a wallpp, th*t;, will transform the frog corpse." ! trying to. be funny," expjainwi Eleanor." fi4^lp>:Hing," :.I agreed: j ""pir,' , Michael;-?renf on,- "why not the iSleepinjß'Bcautj'f And just" by the way [of sure that, there'd- be no ajip jiip.. w* coiijd tgjve N'ickil-.a sleepui? j draught before the, ormawe. ; ; She d SlejjvJtiiroujgiibut She Wiire show, *rd it-' would;jbe. a hovsing .success, r Thai"? m-y.-siJ}|rge.etibn, yob-can- take -if or ; lea,ve ji." ..-■.... i -.'rv-..-.-r-■-.:.••;. '■■■': Arid he bellowed some more. . ... • ' Eleanor; was at the poiiyt of 'tears. accused • him of Wing a- and' a r unna'tural'fat'her.' 1 made my getiaway. • ft was -decides on ' the following day. 'woiifcKbe' -tbrei short pUys; OotiJilockf ; »Dd' the Tnrfe;Tiears, J JaVfc and the Beanstalk, and the' Princess <tu<i the ; Frbg. This decision met'with unaai iiiriu# approval—each kid' would be giv*:. a chance to do his etuff. night *3t |in* fo»tewmjj/:three weeks. Eleanor wa.» Everj- det«'. • nfce'ivcOTjer' personal supervision.

(SHORT STORY.)

Tee she Iβ little Goldilocks Ana she has lost her way.

She even wrote .some lines for the children to say thaV?tbe plays wouldn't be entirely pantomime. She couldn't understand the lack of enthusiasm on the children's part. Their interest wa* one of decided listlessness. Their minds went a complete blank over the simplest lines. • She nearly wore herself out. •■Nicki.-on the other hand, shared her mother's enthusiasm She was enchanted with her wig of golden curh, and after the" fourth or fifth rehearsal was able to go through her lines without being prompted. And so it was not quite love's' labour lost—this was sufficient reward for Eleanor's pains. The school auditorium was packed oa the night of the performance. The entire school staff, parents, friends an.l relatives weye there. I , took my place with Eleanor and Michael in thewing.r, and at the scheduled time the curtain rose. The first play didn't come off too badly, except that there was a bit of an anti-climax that we hadn't counted on.

The Frog had been tapped on the head, the curtains lowered for a moment so that he could transform himself—but wt couldn't unhook him.

"I am little Goldilocks, And I have lost mj> way . . .*•

The curtains had gone up again—aad no prince. With feverish fingers we tugged, yanked and gulled. We finally pulled his frog'r* skin off him, but a bit of hie princely raiment came with it. He went back on the stage with some of his rear exposed. . The next .play came off without ahi ton —until the giant, played by little John, slid down.'the'beanstalk somewhat faster than he should have done. He landed with a terrific crash, and there he sat looking kind.of dazed. He wasn't able to say his lines, but we thought maybtit. was 'just as well—lie hadn't been so hot during rehearsals anyway. . And besides, we were banking on Nicki to redeem the' night. • ' " • . • • We held our., breathe as the curtain opened on little Goldilocks. She stepped forward, and in her childish . treble begani- : -'*•".■■ J"- ;" ': ,"'■ I am .-little Goldllock. And T hare loat my way— and she stopped. ■' . Eleanor paled. With my usual presence of mind, T started to wave my handkerchief, and jump up and down (in the wing*) ,in an effort to attract her , attention. ' ... v;l'>dlajDV6rything but whistle; but she -didn't'look our way. She stood in the centre of the stage as though in a , trance, with a sort of simper on her f&c*. a She began again— t f'.. I am little Goldilocks , And I hare lost my way [ ,= And again she stopped. • ■ •'■ j ■ Michael was doubled up. with laughter, but Eleanor died,a thousand deaths. If Eleanor baa tatt«n my advice we could have saved the day, but she .wouldn't. I wasiall for Bending the three IHtle bear 3 in singing in a chorus. " ■-./

and making a eort of opera out of it. But she wouldn't have it.

Little N'icki kept repeating these two lines over and over mntil she had her audience convinced not only that she was little Goldilocks and had lost her way—but that there was no chance of aer finding it. In spite of Eleanor v? e rang down the curtain. '