STUDENTS’ PROCESSION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8740, 23 May 1914, Page 15

STUDENTS’ PROCESSION

A GROTESQUE ARRAY. The annual street procession of tho Victoria College students, with its accompaniment of funny things, was held yesterday. It was not as big an affair as in previous years, but the weather, which has been too much for many things this week, was also to blame for that. The weather was atrocious in the early part of the morning, and the students, with a groat deal of dejection, had almost abandoned the idea of a procession. But towards half-past 10 o’clock the sun shone, and it was a hastily-got-together array which soon afterwards made its appearance. For this reason, the procession lost some of its interest. In spite of a bitter wind, there was a motley crowd of “girls” with bare legs, short dresses, and, fantastic hair. Topical events were not so prominently featured as in the past, but at the head of the procession was a motor-car, which carried “Sir lan” and his “aide-de-camp.” The suffrage question was noticed in a grotesque picture—a “lady” reclining lazily while her husband pegged away with a scrub-bing-brush and other domestic utensils. Supporting this pretty, picture was the sign, “How to Solve the Domestic Problem—Make Hubby do tho Work.” There was the inevitable troupe of “-Maoris,” who bounded on to tramoars, into shops and offices, and generally made merry. The physical training .scheme was dramatised on one lorry, where “Mr Boyd Garlick” was training a number of powdered “ladies,” meant, it is supposed, to be the teachers of tiho young. Their “exercises” were very funny to watch. Tho whole proceedings were regarded with a great deal of amusement in tho streets, and the students themselves ■■■ cod to thoroughly enjoy themselves. THE EXTRAVAGANZA. A GOOD SHOW. It is quite the usual thing for the Town Hall to bo packed for the annual evening entertainment which it is the students’ custom to produce U’oro. but seldom has'an audience filled the big ball with better cause than L-ne case last night. ‘ Quite apart from any sentiment that may have obtained by reason of the fact That it was the Victoria College students who were running the show, the extravaganza “Boadioea” was worth the trouble and discomfort of issuing forth from a cosy fireside on a. wet, windy evening. The piece was cleverly written and admirably presented, and from the rising of the curtain on a scene depicting ’ the exercising of Druidic) rites 'to the final tableau, there was not a moment that did not hold something of interest. Such a chaotic jumble of the ancient and modern has rarely been given by anybody m Wellington j with more humorous effect. There were the superstition and credulity of the Britons and the old civilisation and rude and ready colonising methods of the all-conquering Romans jostling - for pride of place with allusions to current topical happenings, modern occurrences and contemporary people. The quaint paradoses that were the work of the writer amused, and tho meritorious work of the people behind the footlights did tile rest.

Mr L. P. Leary, who was responsible for both the writing and producing, also bedecked himself in a costume lhat combined the skins of antiquity with the diaphanous creations of the modern modistes, and gave a representation of Boadicea that was as remarkable in its merits as it was lacking in fidelity to its chronological and robing period. In his grotesque coquetting with Crassus, he was splendid, but his best work (and one of the best efforts in all the funny business) was his burlesque of Miss Maude Allan. He gave his interpretation of a “tone poem” (accompanied by . the “Churnyupsky” trio) in a manner so insanely and ridiculously absurd that the audience suffered all the pains and petty agonies incidental to unrestrained laughter. It was a very clever piece of work, whose crudity was brightened and intensified by the incongruous half-festive, half-martial setting that stared out from the back. Managerial confidence didn’t disclose what instruments the “Churnyupskys” used for the production of their nervestraining and hideous noises, but the music-murdering; implements looked weird enough to belong to any age, and, anyway, there are no ancient Briton or Homan manufacturers of musical instruments extant to consult modern lawyers concerning modern libel and slander laws. It therefore doesn’t matter much. Mr L. A. Rodgers, as Crassus (“Centurian and Ragtime Expert”—what incongruity I) was the Jack Cannot of the show. He was a remarkably good laughtermaker —genuinely and deliberately funny, utterly ridiculous, dense and obtuse to a degree, or just plainly and laughably absurd as the occasion demanded. It is not permitted to detail all the good work of the good people who took part.

There was one Druidic oration that aroused much mirth, though it was seriously, nay, angrily delivered; but away back in one’s memory it appeared that one had heard something of the kind before—there was a familiarity about tho trend of the words and the contributing circumstances that would make it appear that even minor events in history have a knack of repeating themselves with minute accuracy. The songs were good, and so was the singing; the choruses bespoke careful training and painstaking preparation; and the setting and tableaux were picturesque and creditable. Dr Kington Fyffe waved the baton over a very good'orchestra, and the others, on whose toilings the limelight didn’t show, had in a splendid entertainment the reward for their clever work. Supplementary to the extravaganza were a number of songs having special reference to the college and llie people there, while Mr Bates and his weather were also given due attention and honoured in song.