PAGEANT OF NATIONS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 158, 20 June 1935, Page 4

PAGEANT OF NATIONS

Splendid Havelock Concert MAORI PARK’S TRIUMPH The Pageant of Nations concert in the Havelock North Village Hall last evening, excellent as were the items given by the pakeha performers, was a triumph lor the Kohupatiki Concert Party, who, as the Him critics say, “stole the picture.” That is not to say that the items of English, Irish, Welsh, and Scotch music and dancing and so on were not well done, nor that they were not enjoyable, for they were very much so. But they seemed in comparison with the Maori items a mere echo of national arts, whereas the Maoris sang and danced what was native to them and in their very blood and tradition. At the beginning of the concert the audience were asked, on account of the length of the programme, not to invite encores, an J they were able to restrain any inclinations they might have had in that direction until iho Maoris gave their items, and then they were so insistent and clamorous that it seemed likely that the restriction on encores would be relaxed. However, it was not so, but tho audience showed their pleasure when it was announced that the Maori Concert Party is to give a concert in the hall next week. The hall was to crowded last evening that a number of people had to stand, and the concert was a great success both financially and from the point of view of tho pleasure that it gave the audience. The hall was picturesquely decorated, and the stage made a gay sceue with its assemblage of men and women dressed in the national costume of many nations. The finale was a procession of the pageant through the hall, and it was a very striking finale indeed. The evening opened with some introductory remarks by the Rev. R. R. Waugh and the reading, by Mrs Turner Williams, of tome lines of Whittier on peace. The concert was in aid of the Jubilee Cancer Fund. The following are details of the proj gramme: — I Opening remarks, Rev. K. B. Waugh; i Words on Peace, Mrs Turner Williams. England. — Overture, “Pomp and Circumstance” (Elgar), Miss Fox's Orchestra: song, ‘‘Over the Meadow,” Miss Edith Blair; elocutionary item, ‘‘Charm of England” (.Helen Gray

Cone), Mr Stanley Warwick; gavotte, Misses Fergusson and May; song, ‘‘Yeomen of England,” Mr Brough. Scotland. — Pipe selections, Mr Lawson; recitation, ‘‘Scotland,” Mrs Hugh Baird; song, “Coming Through the Rye,” Mrs H. Poppelwell, seann truibhais, Miss Jean Lowry (in character, with pipes); humorous recitation, Mr W. Wood. Ireland. — Musical selections, piano and ’cello, Mrs Leedom and Mr Marsicano; song, “Mother Maehree, ” Mesdames Pike and Buck (in character); Irish jig, Miss Fay Hall; song, “Father O’Flynn,” Mr Brough. Wales.—Musical selection/., piano, Mrs Christie; song, “All Through the Night,” Mrs Wall (in character); elocutionary item, Miss Joyce Money, A.T.C.L.; song, “Men of Harleck,” Mr Bryant. ’Cello solo, Mr Marsic.ano; tap dance, pupils of Miss Jean Ballantyne; song, Mrs Marsicano; elocutionary item, Miss Josephine Cassidy, A.T.C.L.; songs and dances in native dress, Te Awapuni and Kohupatiki Maoris; N.Z. National Anthem; Parade of Pageant.