KAPONGA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 September 1924, Page 7

KAPONGA.

SCHOOL CHILDREN’S CANTATA

A CLEVER ENTERTAINMENT.

The pronounced achieved last April by the pupils of the State School m the initial performance of their concert and cantata was quite eclipsed on Thursday evening, when the entertainment was reepated before air enthusiastic audience in the Town Hail. Previous experience enabled many improvements to be effected, and the industrious attention given by the juveniles to .the preparatory work resulted in the presentation of an outstanding perrovmance which met with well-merited approval. Playing with entertaining vivacity, the children gave evidence of careful training in their parts, both solo, and ensemble numbers being interpreted with pleasing assurance and freedom from stage embarrassment. They are once again to be commended upon their success. The production was supervised by the headmaster, Mr J Bailie, assisted by the school staff. Much credit is due to Miss A. Rawlinson who, besides being responsible for a large share of the vocaL and c,dicing instruction, designed and made the dainty costumes worn by the “fairies” in the cantata and “The Dolls, ” “Land of Nod,” and “Daisy Nurses” in the concert numbers. Assistance in the general work was given) by Mrs W. H. James and Mr A. Ferguson. Valuable services were rendered by Miss Bennie as pianist. A concert programme occupied the first part of . the entertainment, which was opened with a welcome speech ably delivered by Ray McCarthy, who also, at a later stage, recited ‘The Spanish Champion,” and appeared in some of the concerted items. The seniors— Maud ,Guy/Muriel Evans, Jean Seveme, Edith Briscoe, Hilda Guy, Sidney Blackwell, Ray McCarthy, Ray Kehely, Gordon Davies, Reg Hill, Stan. Betts, Claude Macks, Kenneth Macks, Harry George and» Douglas Bickford sang “The Bluebells of Scotland,” “La Marseillaise,” and “The Harp.” The “Dolls’ Song” was rendered by Doris Guy, Sadie Bertie, Joan Bennie, Molly McCarthy, Patty Tonkin and Marjorie Cook, a charmingly dressed sextette of junior pupils whose actions and singing received a vociferous encore. The “Land/ of Nod” was sung by Molly McCarthy, Marjorie Cook, Joan Bennie, Patty Tonkin, Linda Davies, Jean Guy, Betty Hollard and Doris Guy, who also appeared in another effective .chorus “The Daisy Nurses.” In “Teaching the Alphabet” Stan Betts, as master, and Ray Kehely, Claude Macks, Warren Keheley and Joe Hey,' ds his pupils, caused much amusement. Another well-received items was an uncon-, ventional exposition of ventriloquism, given by “Professor” Reg Hill, who, instead of the customary one, was assisted by threg dolls (Sidney Blackwell, Kenneth Macks and Edmund Albon). The recitations ‘ ‘Aunt Priscilla’ ’ and as an encore “The Cats’ Tea Party,” v r ere rendered by Doris Guy, and Maud’ Guy recited “Empire Day.” Mr L. J. Loftus sang “Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes,” and responded 1 to the recall with “Sally Horner.” A diverting interpretation of the well-known nursery rhyme “Ten Little Nigger Boys’’ was contributed by John Harding, Bill Bartlett, Jack Macks, Ernest Cox, Kenneth Alton, Arthur Anglesey, Roland Sharpe, Pierce Schweiters, Tom Tattersall, Warren Kehely, and Joe Hey (the bride), and vied with “The Dolls” for first place in popular opinion. Dainty fairies and fearsome goblins were featured in “The Fairy Spell,” the fantasy which occupied the second portion of the entertainment. The assistance given by the faries to a child mortal held captive by the gnomes provided the ; theme, giving tile ooportunity fox some well conceived' dialogue, graceful dancing, singing, and the display of 'attractive costumes. The scene opened in a woodland glade .wherein danced a band of fairies: To them came the queen, who recounted the plight of the unhappy mortals, and waving her wand, cast a magic -spell over the glade whereby the gnomes would be prevented from returning to their caves before midnight, after which hour the fairies held sway over all things evil. The fairies dispersed to await the mystic hour, and to the glade came the king of the gnomes, with his councillors, ladies of honour, guards and attendants, and arranged his court. In their midst was the captured ■ mortal, whom they proceeded to speciously, catechise in spelling, history and geography, but in their questioning they remained until the fairy chimes tolled the hour of twelve, and just as the victim was being sentenced to a term of menial servitude, the fairies rushed in and effected her release. •

The part of the king of the gnomes was taken by Ray McCarthy; the fairy queen by Hilda Guy; the lost child by Muriel Evans. Ladies in waiting at the king’s court were: Maud 'Guy, Jean Severne, Gladys Williams, and Edith Briscoe; Gordon Davies was Lord High Chancellor; Stan. Betts, Lord High Treasurer- Clem Hill, Lord High Councillor; the guards were Claude Macks, Douglas Bickford, Sidney Blackwell, Ray ' ICehely, Harry George and Reg Hill. The gnomes were John Harding, Tom Tattersall, Joe Hey, Warren Keheley, Bonnie Tonkin, Maisie Bennie, Roland Sharpe, Vernon Evans, Bertram Cook and Jim Sharpe; the fairies were Molly McCarthy, Shiela Harper, Marjorie Cook, Patty Tonkin, Doris Harper, Linda Davies, Molly Jean Guy, Betty Hollard, Joan Bennie, Sadie Bertie, and Doris Guy,, all of whom rendered capable interpretations of their respective roles.

. After the performance, Mr D. J. Keheley, chairman of the School Committee, expressed appreciation of the public support accorded, . and of the work of the children, the school staff, and all who had assisted in preparing and giving the entertainment. He also expressed the thanks due to the ladies who provided the supper subsequently served to the performers.