Y.M.C.A. GYMNASTS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 7, 3 October 1927, Page 7

Y.M.C.A. GYMNASTS

« SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATION. “Better than ever’’ was no doubt the unanimous verdict of the crowded audience at the Grand Opera House ou Saturday night, when the members of the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium classes gave their’ annual display. It was a fine sight to see tho pexaprmers in their neat gym. outfits, performing on parallel or horizontal bars, skipping, marching, club swinging, with, foul’ clowns here and there giving the proceedings a comic turn. They were a credit to theix- instructor, Mr .J. A. Duffy, and his assistant, Mr. H .J. Steptoe. With their leader, J. Lawson, the senior boya opened with parallel bar gymnastics, A mixed demonstration of barbells by tho Indies and men was followed by a realistic camp-fire scene, some of the girls singing in characteristic gipsy fashion. Misses Molly Duffy and Beryl Borrows, with the junior girls, were responsible for this picturesque item. Tumbling and gymnastics by the Swastiki Group, E. Ay ling and ladies, were markedly applauded, as was the balancing by 11. Hurley and seniors, ball swinging by I. Bradshaw arid the junior girls, and the “Old England” dancing by Miss Rene Zander, ladies and girls, and Swedish drill. After the interval name horizontal bar, physical drill, and skipping, and Miss Norma Walker and the ladies gave an artistic item, “The Toy Drum-Major.” Tho electric light inarch was one pf the best efforts for effect, for the swinging of the torches in the dark was exceedingly pretty. The golliwogs’ turn by the mon, wearing masks, w»as a humorous one, and at the same time a fine display of scientific use of muscle, this including a series of pyramids, in the finale of which one of tile elowns 'tumbled up against the “king pin” and brought the whole, prynmid down in a hurry. A .very effective display of club swinging by tho ladies was tlie prelude to the grand finale, when tho whole companv appeared in various costumes. Mr. TT T.iardot was stage manao-er Mr A. Williams musical director, and Mr. H. Parker was responsible for the excellent lighting effects.