BRAN PIE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 December 1932, Page 6

BRAN PIE.

ENTERTAINMENT ABOUNDING IN VARIETY.

MRS J. HOLME’S PUPILS AND ASSISTING ARTISTS.

The public attended in goodly numbers at the Regent Theatre last evening to witness the song and dance festival, entitled “Bran Pie,” given by the pupils of Mrs J. Hulme, and assisting artists; and they were rewarded with an excellent entertainment. Children both of Levin and Otaki were concerned in the ballets and scenas, and variety was augmented by adult talent from Palmerston North. A very extensive wardrobe was evident in the presentation of widely differing subjects; the scenery and properties, showed the influence of judicious taste; and the lighting effects added much to the spectacular value of many items. A very capable orchestra was engaged, which, provided truly rhythmic and tuneful accompaniments for the dances and also played good incidental music, the overture being .“ Beautiful Blue Danube” and entr-acte “My Lady’s Mood. ”

The first juvenile number was simple, yet attractive, being a series of operatic dance exercises by members of the Levin and Otaki intermediate and infant classes. The later division were tiny tots indeed, but they understood what they were there for and gave a convincing demonstration of j the aptitude of little ones to put their! bodies and limbs to graceful uses as • the result of intelligent training. The offering as a whole was very acceptable, and, as an hors d’oeuvre, served to whet the appetite of the amusementlovers for the more elaborate features that were to follow. “Wooden Soldiers” was a ballet by the elderrgirls which immediately found approval, the make-up and the posturing being alike appropriate. A pretty contribution was a gavotte executed by little Betty and Barry Yallanee, both of whom, although so young, evinced real elegance in their steps and deportment. Then there was a vivacious presentation entitled “Eight Little China Boys,” by Levin and Otaki intermediate pupils. They were uniformly attired in an Eastern mode and equipped with pigtails, which'proved their usefulness at least as aids to dance interpretation. The calliathenie aspects ;o£ the selection were productive of some pleasing evolutions. A change was struck with the staging of a humorous sketch, “Buying a Hat,”,by a party of players from Palmerston: Misses x Ruth Skerman (shop assistant), Edna Boon and Helen .Williams (clients), Mr H. Palmer (shop assistant) and Mr E : . Spraggon (pur-. chaser), It was an amusing commentary on some well-known facts, perhaps slightly exaggerated for the occasion, as it showed how a lady tried on nearly all the hats in the shop and walked but rwithout buying one, after which a man breezily marched through the premises, purchasing en route the first hat offered to him. Little Heather Hotiglas, ■who will b(? remembered as having made- her first public appearance When little more than, a baby, showed that she had progressed far in the meantime both with singing and acting. She provided a sketch in two parts, the first of which revealed her as “An American Tough. After a lightning change, she supplied ‘ ‘The Contrast” by returning as a gentleman of fashion. In both parts she knew how to carry herself, did, heel-and-toe dances with precision, and sang very nicely.. The “Blue Danube” ballet, by a troupe from Palmerston, was a bright gem in the first half of the programme. The colour note was carried put in diaphanous dresses, the charm of which was accentuated by sparkling diadems. The movements were captivating, and in all cases the poshig Was artistic. Solo dancing was cleverly carried out by Misses Jean Scott, Edna Boon and Betty Muir; and a remarkably fine performance of the adagio was given by Miss K. Boyle and Mr E. J. Bills, their difficult work being achieved Without the suggestion of effort. Very popular was the novelty item, “The New Hats,” in which a party of infant pupils made their appearance from hat-boxes, and, in exquisite old-world costumes, danced a dainty measure. Mr J. D. McQuin, whose tenor was at a capital pitch, afforded the audience a rare treat with his rendition of “Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes,” and had to come back in response to an insistent encore whereupon he sang with equal merit “Sally Horner.” The finale to Act I. was “The Story Book Ball,” and it re-introduced many nurseryrhyme characters, who appeared in response to the soloist, Miss Alice Holdaway, members of the Levin and Otaki combined classes taking the parts, for which they were costumed with much ingenuity.

The playlet, “In a Garden,’ * with the second part opened, was produced ihy the Levin intermediate class. All but two of them appeared as sprites who danced in the garden at night, waking to life the stone statue of a little boy (Bessie Vernon) and enticing Miss Pompadour (Naomi Prebble) to join them. The principals were seen to much advantage in this little fairy drama, and the ensemble was a delicate picture. A high class of accomplishment was revealed by Miss Edna Boon in the dance “Snappy Tap, ’’ which disclosed a great deal more of - the poetry of motion than might bb r guessed from its name. The humor-' ous sketch by a Leyjn, adult cast, “Afternoon Tea,” was' bn the of how guests were ■ conventionally entertained and how they would hhve been 'received had private thoughts been spoken. The characters were; Wife, Miss Enid Benton; husband, Mr

J. Logan; Mrs Cantor, Miss M. MeCallum; Mr Cantor, Mr J. W. Denton; Rev. Howslip, Mr H. P. Smith.; Miss Pim, Miss A. HoldaWay. These players all had their parts well in hand, and gave an amusing interpretation, which culminated as farce in the second scene. The visit of the Huia Quartette from Palmerston was a vocal joy, and three times they were recalled. The combination consisted of Messrs Amos McKegg, H, Pizzey, T. Simpson and W. Robertson. Opening with ‘ ‘ Oh, How the Glow-worms Glow,” they returned to give “Travelling Along,” “Tiptoe through the Tulips” '(with property flowers), and “How I Love You.” Miss Boyle and Mr Bills were wonderful in their acrobatic ‘ ‘ rag- j ists ’ ’ ’ duo, the neatness of whose evolutions could only have been made possible by art superimposed on physical endurance through a course of intensive training. They reappeared as the result of a well-deserved encore. Mr B. Spraggon, in a light baritone of pleasing quality, rendered “If I Were King.” The concluding production was a dream-play, “Christmas Eve,” which had certainly been well thought out and was staged in ’such a manner as to offer a constantly increasing spectacle of gaiety and colour, of which the climax was the presence of over thirty characters, representing personages, toys and seasonable articles, each in an appropriate guise. The play commenced with a scene depicting the mother (Miss E. Boon), the little boy (Naomi Prebble), and the little girl (Rae Bennett) in the nursery, and their preparations for the arrival of Father Christmas (Miss Melva Wrigley. In his train the benevolent old gentleman brings the presents: Balloons (Alma Stanley), Gollywog (Melva Stanley), Crackers (Pamela Wilson and Beryl Wrigley), Stockings (Bessie Vernon and Lorna Meddings), Mickey (Kitty Dobson), Bat (Barry Yallanee), Cup and Saucer (Maureen Bills), Sugar Basin (Doreen Milne), Tea Pot (Heather Douglas), Jug (Ruth Chatwin), Cup and. Saucer (Pamela Owen), Small Doll (Prudence Wilson), Dean’s Doll (Jean Thornton), Top (Shirley Wilson), Jack in the Box (Rachael Benge), Big Doll (Aileen Robson), Box of Chocolates (Nola Stanley), Christmas Tree (Betty Burke), Bucket and Spade (Joan Stanley), Christmas Cake (Maureen O’Connor), Aeroplane (Zeta O’Connor), There are also elves (Nancy Benge, Daphne Bills, Eva Flfitey and Lorna Ellis). A fairy (Jean Scott), with a wave of her wand, causes all the visitors to dance, and so they continue until they fall into a heap in the centre of the floor, where the children, on waking in the morning,, find them. The whole spectacle was such as a children’s play should be —expressive of happiness and beauty.

The personnel of the complete juvenile ballet for the entertainment was as follows:—

Levin Class. —Maureen O ’Connor, Zeta O’Connor, Nancy Hesp, Aroha Hesp, Pamela Wilson, Prudence Wilson, Beryl Wrigley, Melva Wrigley, Kitty Dobson, Lorna Meddings, Naomi Prebble, Rae Bennett, Joan Stanley, Alma Stanley, Winifred Smith, Bessie eVrnon, Melva Stanley, Nola Stanley, Betty Burke, , Betty Yallanee, Pamela Owen, Heather Douglas, Barry Vallah.ee.

Otaki Class: Daphne Bills, Nancy Benge, Shirley Wilson, Jean Thornton, Eva Flutey, Lorna Ellis, Doreen Milne, Ruth Chatwi'n, Maureen Bills.

The orchestra consisted of the fol-lowing:—-Official pianiste, Mrs J. D. McQuin; first violin, Mr J. Rikihana; second violins, Mr L. R. Spencer; saxophone and clarionet, Mr W. G. Phillips; ’cello, Mrs G. France; bass, Mr H. Varnham; cornet, Mr Roy Pickering; trombone, Mr T. Pickering; drums, Mr D. Fox.

Altogether it was a capital show, al was to be expected from a company under the direction of a teacher with Mrs Hulme’s wide experience. At 'the conclusion there was a liberal distribution of bouquets and other favours from friends, when the children, various adult performers and the producer were honoured.