CRECHE KINDERGARTEN FESTIVAL.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14161, 29 September 1911, Page 9

CRECHE KINDERGARTEN FESTIVAL.

~ ■ The Theatre Royal was crowded to ' the doors last niyht when thp first ■ tattfrtainment oi tho Creche Kindergarten Festival wjis given, lc t.-.t; r.n • •'amateur" programme* right through, • but the different items were of a distinctly high order of merit, some of I thfnii inde«], being veil up to the Professional standard. Thoijo present, - jjonsfquently, enjoyed thoroughly the entertainment provided, showing their - - appreciation by their prolonged nppUnse and insistence on rccallr.. Tho first part of the programme opened with National Flag March by Convent High School Girls, a spectacular item, well • carried out. Two little, girls, Alraa Henderson and Stella Henley, purrilr. of Mis? Saunders, contributed a harem gkjrt dance, with a freedom and graro which made the iu-in most enjoyable. A squad of dainty damsels, pupils cf thp F,ast Christohnrch School, presented a charming Japanese idyl! "Cherry Blossom Time in Japan." Tho gjrls all appeared in Japanese rostumo With Japanese umbrellas and boughs of blossoms and sang and danced very prettily. They hnd evidently been carefully trained, and their contribution to tho programme, was one of tho most successful item*; of the ovrninj.;. Miss Bnrton. assisted by pupils of St. Michael* School, gave a picrettc danco for which .they received hearty applause. Some of tho performers wo.ro ' liny little tots, but they skipped through their steps most daintily. Master Clnl«» sang a comic song, for which "* he was encored, and the- part ended " jrith a costume play "A Diamond Jubi- * fee Dream," performed by pupils of Mies Cowan, tho different characters . representing the moro important of (h* English Sovereigns supposed to be (fathered together to discuss tho outstanding virtues o( the Victorian era. • ■Jβ'the second part tho different items were contributed by pupils of Mr F. A. Hornibrook and consisted or exhibitions of ball-bunching, fencing, boxing, . {tc. A novelty in the shapo of an exe-ewinging exhibition vras given by Mr C. Buckett. while Miss It. Ecroyd deMOnstrated'her skill at ball-punching. A fencing bout, between Miss A. Saun- ' den ana Mr G. Bartley, wiw full of ' "'interest, and a good boxing '.took placo between Masters P. Wat- ■ .ton and M. Grant. Mr J. Harding ■ performed somo clover trapozo work, and eight graceful ladies entranced tho spectators with an exhibition of tho gmdish extension exercises, this being the first occasion on which those.•MTCises havo been performed in public 'in Christchnrch. The evening closed with a descriptive- recitation arranged hy Mr Hornibrook. entitled "The Re- ' form of Murphy's Rent." Tho recita- \, two was given by Miss A. Saundors, the . T jfluetrativo pantomime being performed ■ ",by Mr W. Cooper and Mr A. Thorpe. 'The item was a distinctly novel one, , end made a hit. • To-night; tho second entertainment of "■the Festival will bo given, and another '•jnurt attractive programme has been »- tringed.