WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 121, 20 April 1940, Page 8

WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

PATRIOTIC CONCERT. One of the most, novel and entertaining .concerts presented by local talent for some time was that staged by the Woodvilie Women’s Institute in the Institute Hall on Thursday. Proceeds were in aid of the patriotic funds and there was a large attendance. Attractive ' stage settings and special lighting, combined with bright presentation throughout, added to the success of the function. Originality and humour were the keynote and the varied items showed evidence of careful preparation. The Mayor (Mr It. It. Johnston) thanked the public for attending in such largo numbers. The programme, he said, had been organised by the Women’s Institute under the supervision of Mrs McCormick, and they were to be congratulated on the spirit which had prompted them to devote the proceeds to patriotic purposes. It was the duty of all to support every patriotic endeavour, and lie was pleased to see that the people of Woodville were fostering these appeals. A vote'of thanks to the institute was carried. The concert opened with a selection of popular Western melodies presented in a cowboy camp fire scone by glee club and institute members and the Woodville Mouth-organ Band. A humorous sketch entitled “Daisy Bell.’’ enacted by Miss Jean Stevenson’s pupils, followed. The clever humour and c&stumes of the “Gay ’Nineties” made this a pleasing item. Then came a tableau, “Riding Down to Bangor,” in which the vocalists were Mesdames Keay. Eades. Ttowbotham and McNeil and Messrs Wilson, T. Smith and Rowbothani. The bracket of part songs by the glee club which followed proved very popular. The mouth-organ band rendered selections, after which “Chin. Chin. Chinaman,” an original musical sketch, was excellently presented by the glee club. Another pleasing item was "a Japanese tableau presented by Mrs Scb-odor (soloist). Mrs Eades and Mr S. W'lson. Community singing was led bv Mrs McCormick. A playette. “Gossip,” was particularly well acted bv Mrs T. Smith and Misses Kirkpatrick and Cross. The programme concluded with a humorous sketch under the title of “The Awkward Squad” presented by the glee club, wh : oh caused much merriment. The hall was afterwards cleared for dancing to music supplied by Mr IT. Brooker. A large crowd took the floor.. Mr Rowbotham acting as M.C.