A BIG SUCCESS.

Franklin Times, Volume XX, Issue 98, 25 August 1930, Page 5

A BIG SUCCESS.

ANNUAL MAGAZINE CONCERT. ' BY HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS. The Pukekohe Technical High School’s annual magazine concert'was presented to a full house at the Strand Theatre on Thursday evening. The large audience was also an appreciative one fudging by the spontaneous applause which followed ‘each item.There is 'no denying the fact that the concert was an overwhelming success from every point of view, and the performers and those responsible for their training, are deserving of the highest commendation on the success of their efforts. From commencement to conclusion there was ample entertainment to satisfy the tastes of the most fastidious. The entertainment was ■ bright, varied and wellbalanced and delighted the large audience.

The school choir, under the baton of the Principal, Mr W. F. J. Munro, contributed no fewer than 16 numbers, including modern and sentimental, in pleasing style, and it was one of the features of the evening. The young folk came through their ordqal with flying colours and a credit to all concerned. The choir’s numbers were, “Sailing,” by Gr Marks; “How Great is the Pleasure (Harrington) : “The Dear Little SfiTiinfock” (Jackson) : “Dixies Land” (Emmett) ; “Cofne to the Fair” (Martin) ; “Land of My Fathers” (James) ; “Swanee” (Gershwin); “Hark! ’Tis the Indian. Drum” (Bishop) ; “Largo” (Handel) ; “The Glow Worm Song” |Lincke) with Miss Muir Maddison as the soloist, and who gave a delicate rendering of the number, revealing marked improvement on her last appearance; “With a Down, Down, Iley Derry Down" (Birch) ; “Torn is Gone to Hilo” (Shanty) ; “Arethiisa,” “The Toy Maker’s Dream,” “Three Foreign Melodies” and a skit on Arapuni, the tune of Clementine.

Pianoforte solos were delightfully rendered by Miss A. Bow'den, “Greig’s Wedding Day”; Miss W. Scott “Rhapsody,” by Donyani, and Miss Dulcie Hugbsnn “Polichenelle” in F sharp minor, by Rachmaninoff. Girls in Concerted Items.

The girls'-of the school, Misses J. Harper, E. Harper, G. Lee, R. Short, D. Luke and A. Burgess gave a pleasing rendition of Alfred Hill’s “E Pari Ra.” - Dressed in Maori style and swinging the pois, the girls soon won the approbation of the audience and an encore was insisted on. “Mexi-

cali Rose” was, beautifully given by Misses J. Moselen,. E. Goodison, G. Huckstep, F. Addy, S. McKinney and M. Markwick, who were called on for an encore, and they .responded with “Let the Rest of the' World Go By.” “Honey” was the title of another item given by the girls (Misses Zcna White (soloist) , J. Mack, A. Bowden, D. Bowden, M. Young, O. Frost. M. Pratt, S. Snell and M. Markwick) and so. well was it presented that the audience persisted with a demand for an encore. These concerted items were fully appreciated and brought lorlh deafening applause.

Master W- Taylor’s contribution was a violin solo. “Meditations from Thais” by Messcnet,. and lie received a wenearned round of applause. Miss Nancy Snell was in her usual form in the recitation, “Naughty Words.” Impersonating a tiny child. Miss Snell looked the part in her red and white chequer dress, and she won a well merited rnrore and responded with Ihe humorous number, “I Acted Like

a Lady.” Air Charlie James’, singing of the popular “Marie. My Girl,” brought forth merited applause and Air James complied to the request for an encore. Aliss B. Earl gave a pleasing exhibition of dancing, first, of the Irish

Jig and then in response to an encore, a skipping dance. In the latter, however. she was severely handicapped by the use of a rope which was far, too lii-lil. However, she was not to he denied, and satisfied her audience. The Star Item. Undoubtedly the star item on the programme was Die humorous monologue. “if Life were a Play,” vividly portrayed by Master Ernest AloncrieL a first prize winner at the last competitions in Auckland. Master Moncrief was in top form and brought into play his natural ability. He was vociferously applauded and replied with an efieeiive rendering of the popular number “Reading under Difficulties.” Again he excelled himself and again the audience hungered for a further contribution from this brilliant young elocutionist. “Monty/’ however, was not forthcoming. Iwo such difficult, numbers being; enough as far as he was concerned.

“The Bpy Comes Horne” was the title of a one-act playette presented by pupils of the school. The cast comprised “Phillip,” Master A. Franklin: “Uncle James,” Alaster C. Jenkins: “Aunt. Emily,” Aliss Eileen Goodison; “Mrs Higgins, Ihe cook,” Miss Mavis Osborne r“Mary. the maid.” Miss Jean McGregor. Individually the young people played their parts with credit, Alasters Franklin and Jenkins excelling themselves, and winning admiration for their natural acting. The play revealed the change brought about, by the war in the characters of the men who fought to uphold the highest traditions of the Empire. Returning from the war Phillip demands all sorts of things from his guardians. Uncle .Tames and Aunt, Emily, who are reluctant to give him his own way. Still imbued with the war spirit, Philip endeavours to force bis demands at the point, of the pistol. Uncle James stands firm although his life is in jeonardv and by diplomatic methods sim-cr-ers in converting Phillip to bis way of thinking. The young man at length realises that it is better to follow out the peaceful civilian methods in preference to the methods cultivated on the field of hostilities. He decides eventually to enter Into partnership with his uncle and when this climax j„ reached the curtain falls. “Lulla Bai Bai” and the strong man of the school put across a couple of

Cheers for the Principal. items which were decidedly amusing and which pleased, greatly. A clever exhibition of the waltz dog was given by Alls Phil Gardiner, who was called on to repeat her performance. • A squad of girls gave a pleasing exhibition of physical drill and the boys of Ihe school produced a tableau. The school song and the National Anthem brought a memorable evening to a close. The orchestra, comprising Aliss A. Bowden (piano), Misses E. Dingle, A. Armstrong, Messrs A. Clark, L. Aliddl amiss, W. Taylor (violins), Mr L. AV. Pook. (‘cello) and Air N. Cummer (drums), contributed musical items between numbers. The principal Air W. F. J. Alunro, on behalf of the school, thanked all who had assisted in any way lo make Hie concert the success it had proved to he. As the audience were filing out of Urn Theatre, the children honoured Iheir principal by singing “For lie s a .lolly Good Fellow.” followed by three ringing cheers, winch signified the high rsf’eom in which they Held him.