CONVENT SCHOOL CONCERT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 7 August 1928, Page 6

CONVENT SCHOOL CONCERT

The concert given' by the combined Convent schools in the Theatre Royal last night proved a delightful entertainment tc (he large audience which filled every part of the bouse. The result was very gratifying to the promoter,'). All tactions pf the community! wore' 1 Weu represented, 'together witft' fleyeral visitors from tlie couhtry. 'llia stage settiugs and scenery, fur which Miss AydOh was responsible, were' both pleasing and harmonious. • The dresses worn by the young performers were the handwork of the Sisters. Tlie programme went through from start to finish without one hitch. The first item consisted of the part song, "Venetian Carnival" by the senior pupils, followed by a piano duet by Misses R. Day and W. Rogers. The "balloon dance" by the junior pupils was perhaps the g'em of the evening. All the children taking part in this were quite young, mostly orphans, and none of them had ever been on a stage before. It was most creditably performed and evoked hearty and justly earned applause. Then followed a violin solo by Miss V. Keruse; a monologue by Mr Marsden (encored); an action song ''The Butterflies" by the junior pupils; a quartette by Misses M. Claughton, V. Keruse and R. Day (violins), with Miss A. Keyes at the piano; Miss Aydon contributed a song, which was vigorously encored; followed by a piano trio by three little dots, Misses J. Fowler, It. Rosier and K. Stevens. The humorous musical recitation, 'Six Little Mice," together with the owl, fittingly closed the first part of the programme. "Over the fields of Clover," a part song by the senior pupils, was followed by a violin solo by Miss M. Claughton; and a song "Rag Dolls," by the infants was very laughable. The "Rag Dolls" were live children, and their dancing, under somewhat difficult and unusual conditions, was most diverting. The xlyOphone duet given by Messrs Bowater was well done, and they received a, hearty recall. The trio, "Golden Sonata," by Misses M. Claughton and V. .'Keruse (violins), and M. Keyes (piano) was performed whilst the stage was being got ready for "The Rose Dream," a sparkling little operetta which followed. The chief characters in this were Miss/E. Hunt ,as the "Queen "of the Fairies," "Little Rose," Miss J. C'urrin; "Door Fairy," G. Scott; "Hop o' My Thumb," R. O'Donnell; "Twins, Can and Can't," D. Batt and J. Strachan; "The Giant Forgot," D. Raharuhi; and the sweet little "Rose Bud", S. Barry; supported ably by fairies, elves and roses—roses white and red—by the junior and senior pupils. The dresses worn in the operetta were particularly beautiful, and the principals and the chorus . alike acquitted themselves well. A nne orchestra of six performers in no small degree contributed to the enjoyment of a most enjoyable evening, which was brought to a close at 10.45 by the hearty singing of the National Anthem.