COLLEGE FUN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 104, 5 May 1930, Page 4

COLLEGE FUN

"KYD"-EXTRAVAGANZA

Übiquitous three-letter chalkings oil pavement and fence, and patrols of young sandwichmen bearing forceful posters, as well as the more usual forms of advertising, have told the town for some time past that Victoria University students were about to produce their annual extravaganza, and that this year's child of their imagination would bo known as "Kyd." That the news was spread to good advantage was shown by the attend-, anue at the Town Hull on Saturday night, when "Kyd" took his first peep at the footlights, and that, the standard of .at least the entertainment portion of the local capping week' carnival is on the upgrade was proved by the performance.-'Of late years there has been a feeling among students themselves as well as the public that the yearly extravaganza was falling short of traditional status, and inclining more towards something akin to musical comedy, with neither the fun nor the music of a very high order.- Last year's revival, -, "G.G.," took one step back up the ladder, and as "Kyd" may safely be said to be a'good improvement on the 1929 exploits of Gaudeamus Groatz, next year may perhaps see an extravaganza of thoroughly satisfying wit and worth.

In their programme foreword, the authors of "Kyd" (who modestly bide their identity under the names of Gulbert and Sillivan), lament the failure of their work "to attain to the full dignity of a topical burlesque." A shred of comfort may be theirs if it is said that, although "Kyd" may* not be worthy of so complete a laurel wreath, at least a fevy bay leaves are due for the many good topical allusions introduced. Current events, particularly " politics, played a large part in the piece. Captain Kyd (scourge of the scuppers) is in search of the seventy millions buried on Ward Island, and also of Fairiel, with whom he feels suve he is in love. His companions in adventure are pirates, piratesses, and Little Eric of 'Bel-hampore, who referees everything possible, including a short fracas, parody'on the SarronDonovan fight. Unfortunately, Kyd mistakes Quinina, the Fairy, Queen, for Fairiel, and declares his love, and, although Quinina has just been scolding Fairiel for having communication with mortals, she "falls" whole-heartedly for the handsome buccaneer. Then, just when the captain transfers his affections to the real Fairiel, matters ' are further complicated by the arrival of Piinpernickel, a lady of decisive notions, who has put to sea to Iqarn the pirate trade—and marry Captain Kyd, too, if ahe knows anything about it! Quinina, in majestic rage, changes the much sought after seaman, into the member for Parnell, and in this nameless plight he is left until the arrival of Sherlock Holmes, who, with his admiring satellite, Dr. Watson, and an outsize in magnifying glasses, is looking for New Zealand, a land where "there's wool and flax and little All Blacks,' wherever you choose to go!" The peerless detective promises to tell Kyd his name in a few days time if, in return, Kyd will put him on the "right track to Aotearoa. The bargain is struck and the finale precipitated. . ,••,,' v • The cast did splendidly, there being a noticeable absence of first-night nervousness. .■ Mr. A. D. Priestley' was truly the hero of the hour aa the swash-buckling pirate, punished to a politician. 'He acted with great verve, and his chief songs "How to Make a Party" and That s What Put Me Into Parliament were remarkably well done. Mr. H. C. Read (Jake) was another soloist with a fane voice and an eye for "businesß, and the chorus singing, particularly of male members of the cast, wua a surpnsng feature. As Quinina, Miss Aileen Davidson cleverly lived up to her rather bitter title; Miss Zenocrate Henderson made picturesque pirate queen, and. Miss Edna Purdie was well chosen as.the wilful, Fairiel. .Deserving of mention, t°°> were Pigfern and Scabious (H. J. Bishop and A. A. B. Moual), constables of the Ward Island Fairy Sen-ice, whose paMcity of costume was in adverse ratio to the merjt of their, performances. Messrs.. W. J. Mountjoy and W. P. Rollings were well paired as Sherlock Holmes and1 Dr. Watson, and other principals were Agnes Elliott, Ola Nielsen.'lt. Hogg, W. S. Earns, R. Larkyn, and D. G. Edwards (Little Enc). An orchestra of fifteen capable players under Mr. A. C. Keys did good work. "When I Was a Nipper" v a rollicking pirates' shanty, was specially composed by Mr.-'W.'H. Stainton, and sung by H. W Dowling (Ben Borstal), and Mr. Keys had arranged the touching scena at the close of the. (almost) wedding scene. Colourful ballets and ensembles were introduced from time to time; with good effect, and any slight gaps m^ sequence were filled in with divertissements by two agile monkeys (U. Williams' and J. A. Whitcombe), and a group of amazing "^K^'will be repeated Vto-nigM and to-morrow night, and it tnose who go arc ready for amusemefet and riot, armed with cold criticism, they should enjoy 'Kyd; as a tapfcS. frolic played with characteristic student enthusiasm, and an evident delire to regain the more traditional paths of college entertainment.