WOMEN’S INSTITUTE CONCERT

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 153, 1 July 1938, Page 2

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE CONCERT

Entertainment and Dance HILARIOUS PROGRAMME PRESENTED A well chosen and amusing concert programme was offered by the Woodville Women’s Institute on Wednesday The proceedings opened with a couple of rousing choruses sung by a group of men styled the “Singing Musketeers.” The numbers were 4 ‘The Changing of the Guard,” in which Mr. J. Charles was the soloist, and 4 ‘Gentlemen, the King,” led by Mr. C. Stevens. A Dutch folk dance followed by a party of six who had been instructed by Miss Coe. Their gay tangerine and green skirts and clogs appeared most effectively against tho plain cream background of the stage. During this number, a large set of windmill wings, blue and red in colour, occupied the background and added another touch of local colour. A bracket of numbers by an instrumental trio followed, the musicians being Mrs. N. Jones (piano), Mr. G. Fairley (piano-accordcon), and Mr. A. Harris (Spanish guitar). , Another folk dance by the same troup of dancers was the next item. It was a graceful number which captured tho spirit of sweet simplicity of an English country: scene. A one-act i \y, ably produced by Miss J. Ste-enson and performed by childron, was then presented. The story enacted was the winning of the d of a prineoss 1v r simple woodcutter against tho suit of three haughty princes. The acting was good and the large audience *ovr ’ . © rvmpathetic portrayal of a fairy tale. The players were: Woodcutter, Lorna Wh leman; Princess, Edna Williams; the King, Betty G williams; the Queen, Jean Schroder: Red Prince, Nita Lawrence; Blue Prince, Nola Oliver; Yellow Prince, Margaret Wade. When the king and queen had given their royal consent to the marriage of the princess to the woodcutter, tho king bade the revels begin and a number of attendants entered to dance around the lovers. The attendants were June Walker, Beryl Court, Margaret Court, Lois Lawrence, Helen Andrews and Kathleen Hickson. The play was followed by a Highland Fling danced by Misses Dickens and Golder. The Institute Gleo Singers then sang two numbers under the baton of Mrs. J. McCormick, the songs being “Elegy of the Sea” and “Gypsy Chorus.” These difficult rumbers were excellently rendered. Tho next on the stage were . the ever-popular Thorne twins who again demonstrated their ability in mg and dance. Their encore was followed * ’ another item from the instrumental trio. The final item was a mock court, the burlesque officers of which were: Judge, in wig and blue crepe dressing gown, Mr. 11. Brooker; constable, portly, massively braided in red and fearfully bewhiskered, Mr. F. Mackie; and the clerk, Mr. ( Peter Millar. Farcical charges of topical allusion were preferred against a collection of blackguards and criminals, inale and female, who defended themselves humorously by song and speech and who wero severally sentenced. Those who were held, often forcibly, in the dock by tho “coshing” constable were: Pussyfoot Johnson, Mr. J. Charles; Dashing Daisy, Mrs. J. Stevenson; Ikey Jacobstein, who had seven or eight wives, Mr. Thorne: Lizzy Stickeyfinger and Polly Lightfoot, who were arraigned for pilfering prunes which were scattered among the audience, Mesdames T. Smith and J. McCormick; Bill Yates, motorist, responsible for clipping the hedges of Fountaine Square, Mr. C. Stevens. The president of the institute, Mrs. N. M. Burnett, was the last to be led handcuffed on to the stage after the constable, from uncertain vision caused through intoxicants absorbed during a bibulous session, had arrested and led a man to fact the judge. Having answered the charge against her, and being discharged with a caution, Mrs. Burnett, on behalf of the institute, thanked the audience for their support and the artists for their assistance, and the mothers who had assisted to dress the children so beautifully. The accompanists for the various items were Miss Taylor and Mesdames Jones and Schroder. Supper was then served, after which the hall was cleared and a large number of dancers took tho floor to the music of the instrumental trio, Mr. G. Fairley, Mrs. J. Hanary and Mrs. Schroder. Mr. C. Stevens was M.C.