Apiti

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7409, 17 December 1930, Page 14

Apiti

SCHOOL CONCERT. From Our Own Correspondent. The weather was propitious for the Apiti School concert held on Friday evening in the Public Hall, and there was a very good attendance in consequence. In spite of pressure of work, shearing and milking, the parents had made special efforts so that the performance commenced at S p.m. sharp with “The Huntsman's Chorus" and “The Month of Maying” by the school choir. Tho little tots then delighted the audience by their natural and selfpossessed playing of singing games and dramatisation of nursery rhymes. “The House that Jack Built," performed in costume by Standard II and 111 boys proved a great success those taking part being: Maurice Stewart, tho House, V. Wildbore, malt, A. Harland, rat, S. Williamson, cat, G. Wildbo/c dog, Cf. Doughty and H. Jacobsen cow R. McKay, tattered man, C. Mapson “tho cock tWat crowed in the morn", A. Viles the priest, H. Digby farmer, while Edith Malcolm, was the “maiden all forlorn." After “Where the Bee Sucks" and the part song “The Cuckoo" by the school choir the juniors again delighted everyone with the whole-hearted way in which they entered into the spirit of the little play “80-Peep." Little Hazel Dick as a fairy pronounced the prologue before the curtaius, which upon waving her wand flew upwards disclosing the little folk of nursery talc land, asleep. The fairy awakened each in turn: M. Nix, Little Miss Muffett; E. Wildbore, Little Jack Horner; I. Osborne, Little Tommy Tucker; Jack and Jill, B. McKay and M. Brungcr. Then W. Wildbore as Little Boy Blue with his horn awakened 80-Peep. Phyllis Waterson made a quaint 80-Peep and to help her find her sheep called to her assistance B. Prujcun, Tom tho Piper's Sou; R. Stewart, W. Hosking, I. Waterson, the Fiddlers Three; tho story being completed by S. Prujcun as tho Princess of Hearts, while Jean Prince os tho old woman who lived in the shoe stopped their revels with her big stick. Ihe various characters in their vivid costumes created a picturesque spectacle. The senior girls then gave an exhibition of folk dancing, The Varsoviennc and the Norwegian Mountain March. The first half of the programme wound up with a play “Our Black Brothers" depicting the trials of a school master trying to teach a group of live boys an action song and contrasting their cl forts with those of their black brothers, the Kaffirs. In the second scene tho live boys by way of reprisal dressed and acted as Negro boys to the confusion of their teacher. Archie Cowan as Mr Johnson, performed his part well w hilo the five boys who caused many mirthful moments were F. Buckinan, W. Malone, E. Williamson, H. Churchill and H. Stanley. Another group of singing games by the tinics opened the second part of tho programme followed by an action song “Piccaninnies" by Jean Prince and° W. Hoskins and chorus, which received prolonged applause. The two soloists as “brown" piccaninn.es from Ohio in fantastic and brilliant hued costumes sang very sweetly and to the accompaniment of the chorus danced the “cake-walk" pleasingly. Next followed two more folk dances—Ace of Diamonds and Cochin China by the senior girls, and a sweet little action song “How’d you like to be a baby girl?" by D. and P. Waterson and Joan Churchill. There were two more action songs by groups from junior classes—- “ Story Land" and the “Land of Children’s dreams," after which Dons and Freda Prince in the quaint old costumes of shepherd and shepherdess descended from their pedestals and danced a gavotte to the choir’s singing of Rendezvous. Tho audience were next regaled with a pretty Orienta scene in which. Olive Ca\e, Ku y nn Joyce Watson gave a pleasing rendering of “Three Little Maids from School" and retired to the background upon the entrance of Maurice Stewart, E. Williamson and H. Stanley as Chinese who performed their action song, “Niddy Nod" with great tervoui they in turn giving placo to Peggy Beard, C. Digby, J. Dnnco and E. Malcolm, who as tea girls tea, Tea, Tea" to a tinkling cup ana spoon accompaniment. They had hard > inched when the three Chinamen dragged in a fourth. 11. Churchill, who sang “Chin Chin Chinaman" while the Japanese girls and Chinese men all sang the chorus the scene finishing with an effective fun dance. Tho last play of the evening was tho “Queen of Hearts" by senior pupils. L. O’Reilly and M. Churchill were King and Queen respectively, M. c ' ing the cook and M. Mollie the kitchen maid, while P. Malone as the knave of hearts aroused tho envy of the small f rv us he consumed the stolen taits with great gusto. The last, item was given by the choir who rendered the sea shanties, “Boney was a Warnoi and “Bound for Rio Grande with evidence of great enjoyment. The audience throughout showed marked appreciation, but owing to the long of the programme it was impossible allow encores. At the conclusion the children sat down to a hearty suppei provided by the committee whi c the chairman, Mr C. Stanley, took the opportunity to thank the staff and parents for the excellent entertainment proviacd.