ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 95, 19 October 1904, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

♦ ■ WELLINGTON PHYSICAL TRAINING SCHOOL CARNIVAL. The opening of the annual carnival of the Wellington Physical Training School last evening drew a fair audience to the Opera House, though not so large a one as the merit of the performance deserved. The gymnasium work as a whole was accomplished with neatness and precision ; the picture acte — tableaux, statuary, marches, and mazes — were all symmetrical and artistic in their execution, and When well lighted showed to groat advantage; and the individual as well as the combined work was highly creditable. The programme was commenced with a grand parade of all the pupils — children, young people, and adults of both sexes. A squad of youths then juggled with clubs. The girls' team and the ladies' team were both seen to advantage, the former in. wand drill, the latter in sword exercises. Boys and men together performed ,on 'rings and climbing rope, and the men -then had a turn to themselves, and showed their wrist development in ball swinging. A pleasing item was the skipping by the girls, some of whom are very proficient, and youth and beauty appear to advantage when they can skim over a skipping rope neatly. Dumbbells, by the boys, left very little ground for criticism. After a sc[uad of youths had gone through tha wand drill, the instructor (Mr. Dovey), with the men and boys, supplied a commendable novelty in the shape of a series of balancing acts. Balancing on his hands on pedestals of blofcks, the instructor removed them successively without disturbing his equilibrium, till he worked his way to the bottom, then moved off with blocks in his hands. Another 'performer walked on his hands downs*?' 11 *' balancing 'iC chair with his legs. The* > ciffex SWmging by the^ ladies> team that won thVi^asJerf?^ rapetitiTO ~ was cleanly and creditably done ;*&MiJ4JI? same may be said of the Men's dumbbells' act. "The Midgets" — two tiny girls, Thelma Petersen and Aileen Jordan—were recalled for their duet with Indian clubs, the rule prohibiting encores being suspended on this occasion. The combined teams — giris, ladies, youths, and men — besides putting up fine individual work on the horizontal and parallel bars, presented a series of tableaux or statuary designs, built up in and about the bars. These tableaux won unstinted applause, and merited it. The Union Jack march, by youths and boys, was a series of mazy, serpentine manoeuvres, nicely carried out, though the juvenile tail of the procession got in the road sometimes. Cavalry sword exercise, by youths, and " Swedish drill," by ladies and girls, called forth approbation. The vaulting horse, which is always a lively feature, won much favour. The ladies jumped from the spring board in great style, and the boys and the men flew over the horse with the rapidity of arrows. The spectacular was reverted to by means of a very pretty running maze by die ladies and girls. Those who know and love the Indian club exercise as it should be done had a rare opportunity in seeing Instructor Dovey do an exhibition turn. He then swung glass globes containing water with such an easy graceful motion I3iat the fluid was charmed into forgetting the law of gravitation. The grand finale showed all the performers again, grouped in a well-arranged tableau. The clowning during the performance waa. in the hands of Girdlestone Brothers. Mr. Minifies orchestra supplied the music. Mr Dovey and 1 his pupils deserve to see the Opera House full to-night, when the second performance will be gnen. GOVERNMENT HOUSE FETE. Lively entertainment was provided at the Veterans' Home fete at Government House yesterday afternoon by men-o'-warsmen, from the Psyche and the Clio J n "mounted infantay" contests ' with ] single-sticks. The individual contest was j won, after some exciting bouts, by Stockj er and Keralake, of the Psyche, and in j the eight-a-»ide melee victory went to the Clio's team. An interesting display of ! cutlass drill was also given. Another ! concert was given in the ballroom, the I contributors being Mrs. A. E. Donne, Mr. and Mrs. L. Schatz, and Messrs. Peroy Deoton, Douglas Jackson', " and E. J. Hill. Jupp's Bamdi was again in attendance on the lawn. At night the theatrical performances, given last week were repeated before a fairly numerous attendance of patrons, and. two playlets were given with greater success than ever. The takings at the afternoon fete yesterday amounted to about £120. The bouquet contest, decided yesterday afternoon, was won by Messrs. H. C. Gib»bons and Co. with a beautiful exhibit. The lawn entertainment provided this afternoon included a display of exercises by students from the Physical Training School under Mr. Dovey, and another concert is to be given. A baby show was also held in the ballroom this afternoon. The fete is to be concluded this evening, the grounds, which will be brilliantly illuminated, being open from 7 to 10 o'clock. The Garrison Band is to he in attendance, and will contribute selections during the evening, and it is also probable that squads of men-o'-wars-men will again contribute to the gaiety of patrons with comic feats at arms. A large attendance is expected to-night. The numerous raffles are to be drawn after the fete closes to-nght.