£41 RAISED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3212, 13 January 1943, Page 7

£41 RAISED

PANTOMIME STAGED FUNCTION IN COROMANDEL SCHOOL LIBRARY ASSISTED On Tuesday evening December 22, the Coromandel Repertory Theatre staged the pantomime “Cinderella in the Caledonian Hall, Coromandel, to a packed house. The cast was as under: Cinderella, Betty Fraser; Prince Charming, Jean Ecclestone; Fairy Godmother, Velma Davies; Queen, June Deeble; Caj> tain of the Guard, Merle Gamble; lieraid, Beverly Davis; Cissie, The Cow, Jane and Fay Birkinshaw; Baron, Erie Gilliver; Ugly Sisters, Noel Strongman and Eric Gamble; King, Thomas Pringle; Palace Guard, Beverly Davis, Joan Gilliver, Laura McKee, Dorothy Inglis, Joan Scott, Myra Potae, Colleen McKenzie, Margaret McKenzie; Attendants, Gloria Ngapo, Jean Tapsell, Harvey iPotae; Fairies, Shirley Hannaford, Pat Hannaford; songs by Reremoana Ngapo, Sophie Ngapo, Laura McKee (accompariiste, Irene Pepper) and Harold Carey.

The pantomime was in five acts, as follows: —Act I, The Baron’s Kitchen; Act 11, The Palace Courtyard; Act 111, The Palace Ballroom-; Act IV, The Auckland Domain; Act V, The Baron’s Kitchen.

Mr Reginald Hawley was the stage manager, while the children s costumes were by Maison Rtissell. Messrs Strongman and Co. provided the lighting. Everybody played their parts extremely well, which testified to the amount of time that had been put in at rehearsals, etc. The whole programme went with a swing and was very much applauded and appreciated by the audience.

During the intervals between the acts two ballet dances were given by the Misses Shirley and Pat Hannaford; a song by Miss Laura McKee; songs by Mr Harold Carey, and duets by Reremoana and Sophie Ngapo, all of which were enthusiastically applauded. The performance closed with, the singing of the National Anthem, after which a carnival dance took place in St. George’s Hall.

The music foi* the dance was supplied by Mrs E. M. Lucas (piano), L. Perfect (drums) and extras were supplied by Misses I. Pepper and Beverly Davis. Mr W. Hart acted as M.C.

A tasty supper consisting of coffee and sandwiches was served by a committee of ladies and was very much appreciated by all. During the evening Mr E. W. Gilliver, chairman of the Coromandel School Committee, thanked the Repertory Theatre for the wonderful effort they had accomplished and intimated that about £4l had been raised as a result, and after expenses had been paid there would be approximately £34 to be handed over to the School Library Fund and also a balance towards the “milk in schools” project which is being commenced, it is hoped, at an early date. Mr Gilliver included in his remarks thanks to the members of the Repertory Theatre and to the originators of the whole effort, Dr. and MrsBirkinshaw, also to the musicians, and those who had looked after the supper arrangements and those who had prepared the floor and decorated the hall. He concluded by announcing that it was past midnight and he took pleasure in announcing the twenty-first birthday of Miss Jean Ecclestone. Three hearty cheers were given after the singing of “For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and Miss Ecclestone suitably replied. At 1 a.m. the National Anthem brought a most successful evening to a close.