BRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Northern Advocate, 16 August 1933, Page 4

BRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT. FIRST-NIGHT 'TRIUMPH. AUDIENCE CHARMED. A packed house at the Town Hall last uight hailed the fifth annual High School concert as even better and brighter. Realising how their efforts were being relished by the audience, the young entertainers gave of their best in a natural way which was most captivating. There was not a single case of stage fright, nor a perceptibly forgotten line or movement during the evening—a tribute to the preparedness of the principals. Everything wont with a happy swing from first to last and the public, were delighted. Whether the theme of the opening

oue-act play, “The Dear Departed,” was (lie most congenial one which eould have been dealt with might be a matter for debate. It concerned family squabbles about the apportionment of property belonging to a grandfather, who combats avariciousness by appearing in person and making a certain decision, which is rather upsetting to his relatives. The story was humorous enough, and the actors played their difficult parts well. They comprised Mona Finlayson, Inez Rood, C. Ransom, Ena Bartlett, E, Edwards and W. Russell. The note of novelty which was the feature of the concert was struck in the tableau, “A Garden of Girls.” When the curtain w r cnt up it revealed

one of the most colourful, spectacular and beautiful groupings ever assembled on the Town Hall stage. A hundred

girls, big and little, represented a garden at sunrise. The little pixies, chief of whom was Mary Wells, tripped round* 'waking the blooms, and the chorus and part-singing- which followed was as daintily pretty as the costuming, The tableau proceeded as follows: —Chorus, “I Know a Lovely Garden”; choral dance, “We Are Fairies Lightly Swaying” (Ruby Dalziel, Gwen Jones and Violet Hobbs); chorus, “An Old Garden” (Joan Cox); duet, “The Keys of Heaven” (Zoe Moore and Marjorie Bull)-; choral dance, “The Shepherd’s Dance” (Dorothy Smith and Marjorie Smith, Sheila Stewart and Aileeu Maxwell, Nancy Weston and Doreen Durham, Thelma Ingham and Jean Lornie). For the arrangement of this exquisite number, £reat credit is due to Madame Bra in shy, who was principally responsible. The School orchestra, eighteen strong, under the baton of Mr. S. B. Dunn, was in. splendid form. The first selection was “The War March of the Priests”-, (Mendelssohn), followed- by the waltz “ Madeleine ”i (Waldteufel). As an - encore the pleasing “Dance of the Fairies” (Pauline Story) was given. The School is fortunate in having on the staff at present .Miss Taylor, who. is a Dominion export in all branches of enrythmics. Her good work was apparent in the splendid manner in which the girls did their “rhythmic dancing.”

A high standard was set at the opening of the second half in the one-act play, “The Boy Comes Home.”- The “problem” in this pieco was one which all could appreciate, and the audience w r as soon rocking with laughter. The nephew 'who came home from the war was excellently played by W. Morris, and Mary, the maid, by Mary Grove. The characterisations of the pliable Aunt Emily (Olga Hunter), and Mrs, Higgins, the cook (Joy Kingston) could hardly have been improved upon by adults, and R. Ross was equally good as the domineer-' ing Uncle James. ! The quality of acting was really fine, and every word could be heard plainly at the back of the hall.

Two plantation songs, “Poor Old Joe” and “Massa’s in de Cold Ground,” were next sung by the boys’ choir of 100 voices. Mr. S. B, Dunn was the conductor. The singing was very melodious and of good volume, the public insisting upon an encore. The curtain had also to be hoisted three times before the girls’ physical training squad was allowed to leave the stage. This number was in the hands of Miss Mueller, and was one j which was very much liked. I

It is no wonder that the compiler of the “Topical Song” chose to remain anonymous. Local and national subjects were touched upon in a most fearless manner, and the boys, dressed for an outing on the beach, infused a very gay spirit as they waved their boaters and banished depression. The “Topical Song” alone was worth the price of admission.

An entertainment of decided merit closed all too soon at 10.30 with the singing of the National Anthem. The concert will be repeated for the last time to-night.