School Concert.

Manawatu Herald, 22 December 1898, Page 2

School Concert.

The school concert held at the Public Hall last night was a great success, the Hall being crowded. The object of the great gathering being to watch the training a number of the children had received at the hands of Miss O'Brien, the assistant mistress, and a play in two acts conducted under the supervision of Mrs Stewart, the head teacher's wife. It is pleasing to say that everything passed off very well, and the evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all. FIRST PART. The first part opened with the stage being occupied by seventy children, in equal proportion as to sex, who sang ' The Laughing Song,' in an admirable manner. The laughter was capital and raised corresponding merriment on the faces of the audience. The Sleighing Song (action) followed, in which at appropriate times the boys cracked their whips and the girls rang small bells. Four little boys, F. Jenks, T. Westwood, S. Wanklyn, ' and P. Overend then came forward and recited their experiences of* Dawn into Pants.' The little chaps acquitted themselves well and were heartily applauded. A character song " Funny People from Japan " was sung by (our, the Misses Lizzie White (a lady) Francis Simpson (a teacher) and Masters Bert. Shadbolt (a bobby) and Alf. Cook (a masher) supported by the company. The characters were well dressed and all sang out clearly and true. The item that next followed was very loudly applauded, as it deserved to be, being a recitation " If I were a Man" by Miss Bertha Dudson. Her articulation and emphasis were wonderfully good for so small a person, and she had a recall when a verse was repeated. The young lady was the recipient of a very pretty bouquet. " Which way does the wind blow " was given with the pretty effect, in part, with the boys whistling and the girls humming, which resembled the howling of a gale. " Over the Seas " was another capital item. The Rounds, " Cool and Wet," and " Good night" were very evenly sung by the children. A character song by Miss McKenna " I'm ninety five " was very good; The "make-up" of this young lady was excellent, and the song, which declared how very happy an old maid could live, was sung very well, and elicited an encore. SECOND PART. The second part was a capital exhibition of a sash drill, every girl being provided with different coloured sashes, with which they marched, and countermarched, and went though facings, which were executed correctly and neatly, and the use of the sashes held trom hand to hand, helped materially to mark. This item was a great success. During the progress of the drill coloured lights were thrown up from each wing which tended materially to show the pose of the girls and the varied colours of the sashes. THE THIRD PART. The overture was played very nicely by Miss Ada Bradcock, and then the curtain rose to an Oriental Extravaganza in which the characters, all dressed with strict attention to Oriental detail, were taken by Miss Ida Robinson as Princess May, Miss E. Liddell as Chili, Miss J. Imrie as Pickle, and Miss E. Cozens as Chutney. Master Guy Rhodes took the part of Emperor of Tartary, and Master W. Darvill, Prince August. The ladies in waiting were the Misses Pearl Fraseratfd Elsie Cook, and the gentlemen Masters. Harold Collins and Albert Shadbolt. The plot of the piece is the love of the Swineherd for the Princess which is happily settled by marriage in the end. Miss Ida Robinson is to be congratulated on the way she sang, spoke, and acted. The other ladies acted well. Master Guy made an admirable old Tupk, and Master Darvill sang excellently. All the young people are to be congratulated on their performance. Before the last act Mr Hennessy, chairman of the committee came forward and thanked those present for their attendance and congratulated Mrs Stewart, Miss O'Brien, and their assistants the Misses Collins and McKenna on the success attained. Master Bradcock who was to have played a violin solo was not present, the Rev. W. Woollass explaining the cause to be from his having sprained his wrist. The takings, by sale of tickets and cash at the door, amounted to over We give the names of the children who took part in the singing. CHORUS. Boys. — C. Cummerfield, W. Cook, E. Collins, K. Fume, B. Kemp, L. O'Brien, W. Walker, H. Collins, L. Cozens, A. Imrie, P. Jenks, G. Rhodes, A. Cummerfield, B. Westwood, A. Woollass, G. Cook, A. East, T. Westwood, J. Darvill, F. Collins, A. Cook, F. Robinson, A. Shadbolt, R. Cameron, J. Westwood, C. Dunckley, E. Gray, J. Hennessy, W. Hamer, E. Walker, O. Honore and V. Wright. Girls.— L. White, L. Gray, A. Jenks, A. Newth, M. Walker, E. Staff, M. Alzdorf, A. Blake, N. Cummerfield. B. Dudson, A. Harris, A. Scanlon, E. Wakefield, M. Webb, A. Walls, E. Cook, F. Simpson, M. Rhodes, C. Wakefield, E. Burdett, K. and F. Darvill, E. Collins, H. Cook, C. Howan, A. O'Brien, E. Webb, D. Cook, B. Fraser, E. Westwood, F. Cook, E. Jukes, V. Nye, and G. Robinson. SASH DRILL. E. Wanklyn, B. Jukes, L. White, N. Simpson, A. Collins, S. Cook, E. Cole, M. Rhodes, J. Dudson, M. Andresen, S. Cook, M. Coley, F. Dunckley, L. Gray, B. Dudson, A. Harris, M. Anderson, A. Jenks, K. Spelman, M. Birchley, A. O'Brien, C. Overend, E. Collins and E. Simmonds.