STUDENTS’ FROLICS

Evening Star, Issue 23882, 12 May 1941, Page 12

STUDENTS’ FROLICS

• GAPPING CARNIVAL CONCERT BRIGHT AND CLEVER PROGRAMME Once more the Otago University students’ capping carnival is upon us, and the enthusiasm displayed by. the big audience at the opening performance of the capping concert on Saturday night proved that, despite the war, public interest in the frolicsome doings of “ tho students ” at this time of the year has not diminished. Appreciation of the sheer fun, the topical hits, tlie clever interludes, was as warm, and the gaily and quaintly-garbed folk on the stage as full of vim, as ever. As to tho programme on Saturday night, there was a distinct heightening of the standard as compared with the programmes submitted for some years past. True, there may be many who prefer the carefree, boisterous, more or less unrehearsed fun to a display of histrionic talent, but on Saturday this display was allied to good, clean, clever humour in a manner that could not but appeal to the fun-loving as well as to the more discerning. In the two principal farces particularly there was abundant evidence that not only had they been frequently apd thoroughly rehearsed, but that iho dialogue and libretto were the work of writers of ability far above the average. These playlets abounded in topical allusions wittily expressed, the points were all well taken, and the, whole thing went with a smoothness which spoke of unusually conscientious application to the job in band by the students participating. Tho outstanding item was that with which the programme concluded! This was the farce happily entitled ‘ The-Pirates of finance,’ the only blemish being a toolengthy interval for changing the admirable settings. The pirates and police motif was cleverly introduced into this little play, which had to do with the career of one John, a pirate whose attempt to break away from the gang in order to “ build a better Noo Zillon,” was frustrated by the discovery of a fatal clause in his “ contract ” with the pirates. The principals in the cast acted their parts admirably, the student portraying the part of Trixy' Barnyard (“ no great hand as speaker ”) displaying talents of a high order as a comedian. The Pirate King (*' Premier of the land am I ”), Major Hoax (member of the National Fraternity who masqueraded as a “wharfie”), Walter Cash, and John himself, all did excellent work, while the frolicsome * Pirates Chorus ’ (with verses adapted to the theme of the story) were splendidly done. The other farce, ‘ The Stealth Scheme,’ was also a commendable effort. It dealt with matters of health in its various phases, and the characters ranged from the Hon. Pete Blazer and Hon. Mr Gnash to Wrong Young Blah and Professor Golli. Blah, a “ bogus wizard ” with a double voice, was particularly good. Two very fine items by the quartet (‘J owing to import restrictions on tenors we’are unahle to provide a sestet”) were real gems, the voices blending perfectly, and the words of the songs being appropriately up to date. A clever legerdemaine act was another bright item, while various interludes, ballets, and choruses completed a bright, amusing, and altogether entertaining show, towards the success of which, more especially in the accompaniments, the orchestra, under Mr Spencer. Cook contributed its share. The programme will be repeated to-nigbt and on to-morrow and (Wednesday nights.