CHILDREN'S THEATRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23127, 27 August 1938, Page 11

CHILDREN'S THEATRE

"ALICE IN WONDERLAND n . An outstanding performance of a. stage adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" was given by the Auckland Children's Theatre before a large audience in St Andrew's Hall last" night. A fine characterisation was given by the girl taking the part of Alice, who appeared to hare walked out of one of the original Tenniel pictures. ' The settings were of a conventional type and they and the costumes were modelled ats closely as possible to the Tenniel illustrations. The animal masks were unusualy good and all the well- 7 known characters of the book, the frog footman, the iish footman,'the-l mock turtle, the Cheshire cat, and Bill' the Lizard were on the stage, in addi-i tion to the characters who were not" animals, such as the Duchess and the Queen. The second play, "Penelope," was performed by older children between 14 and: IS years of ago. Tlie story told of the • dream of a young man of to-day who i'oiuid himself in an ISth century school for young ladies. The school was conducted by a very strict mistress wh<f - thought he was a spy, as the count ry - was then at war. The play gave tha opportunity for much humour, and tha girls were dressed in the picturesque costumes of the period. ' In the interval, Dr. J. Macky paid a tribute to the producer, Mrs. Zoa , Bartloy Baxter, who founded tha theatre four years ago, and who had ; been entirely responsible for the organisation. Dr. Macky asked for the sup* port of people willing to take executive positions in the productions. Tha theatre is to be formed into an in* 1 corporated society, with the Ladj Angela Dawnay as patroness,, and Dr< Macky president. :%gj, ' The programme will be presented"! again to-day at a matinee and evening performance.