SCHOOL CONCERT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 146, 21 June 1940, Page 4

SCHOOL CONCERT.

PAGEANT OF EMPIRE. AUCKLAND GIRLS' GRAMMAR. The main feature of the entertainment provided in the Town Hall Concert Chamber by the Auckland Girls' Grammar School last evening was a well-staged pageant entitled "Britannia and Her Daughters." Britannia was represented by Helen Piiie, and her daughters by Margaret Anderson (Canada), Mary Yelasn (India), Sheila Mackie (Africa), Alison Hunt (Australia) and Joy Gemmel! (New Zealand). Each daughter in turn with a retinue of followers paid her homage. In words that were somewhat stilted but otherwise most informative, Britannia was told of the manifold resources of her far-flung Empire. The platform, crowded with throngs of uniformed sailors, gaily-dressed Hindu dancers, Red Indians, Canadian trappers, Boer farmers, Australian rabbit catchers, Maori maidens and a negro minstrel, presented a bright and stirring sight, the groupings being most effective. Animation was added to the scene by the introduction of nautch dances, poi dances, etc.; these were most popular. In the first portion of the programme the school orchestra played the ballet music from Schubert's "Rosamond"; Sixth and Fifth Form girls performed Swedish exercises; . the Third Form girls sung Dvorak's "Humoreske," "The Wind from the West" (Parke) and Schubert's "Cradle Song"; the Dramatic Club gave some demonstrations of "miming"—acting without the spoken word. First they presented three nursery rhymes, "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep," "Three Blind Mice" and "Hey, Diddle, Diddle." to music, and next, two silent mimes, "Buying a Hat" and "At the Dentist." A~ group of appropriately attired dancers gracefully executed a Spanish Dance to the music of Moszkowski, and a short play by W. B. Yeats, "The Pot of Broth," was successfully given by Leitu Greig, Cynthia Strange and Margaret Palvey. Those responsible for the whole production are to be complimented upon a great success. These were:—Mrs. H. S. Harvey (music), Miss L. R. Roseveare (elocution), Miss R. Gurr (drill and ballet). Miss A. M. Gorrie (wardrobe mistress), Miss M. M. Heughan (stage settings), and Sheila Mackie and Valerie Shirley (pianists). Mention should also be made of the creditable work of the orchestra.