AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13455, 4 June 1907, Page 6

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

GRADUATION SOCIAL.

The annual social in honour of the graduates of the year was: held on Saturday evening in St. Andrew's Hall. The dramatic item, which is always the principal feature of* the programme, this year took the form of Mr. W. S. Gilbert's " Rosehcrantz and Guildenstern," a witty parody lof Shakespere's " Hamlet." The humours of \ the Danish Court, with a King ; whose conscience is .burdened by the sins of his youth in the shape of a five-act tragedy, and a Crown-Prince with a mania for soliloquy, were the source of much merriment, and -the' burlesque of Shakesperian tragedy and Shakesperian actors was highly relished by the cultured audience. - Mr. E. ,H. Northcroft, as King Claudius, and Miss W. Kent, as the Queen, were dignified and truly regal, and won an enthusiastic encore for an introduced duet. Messrs. A. F. Howarth (Rosencrantz), and R. H. Dellow (Guildenstern), scored a conspicuous success as brainless courtiers, while Miss W. . -Scott (Ophelia) and I Mr. F. N. Jo wit (Hamlet) gave very vigorous and life-like interpretations of '• extremely exacting parts. . The costumes, designed and made by the lady students, were extremely effective. To Mr. Withers' assistance as coach and prompter much of the success of the performance was due. , ■ The college orchestra, under the baton of Mr. S. K. Phillips, rendered several effective selections. The rest of the programme was devoted to topical songs and quartettes, written and sung by students After supper an informal dance concluded a very enjoyable evening. '