A CHILDREN’S PLAY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11656, 22 October 1923, Page 2

A CHILDREN’S PLAY

CARWBLL-COOKE RECITAL. Proof of her training capabilities was given a large Grand Opera House auddencj on Saturday ovening by Miss Noeta Carwell-Cooke, when she produced a Children’s dance play, for and on behalf of her pupils. Judging by the way some of the tiny tots performed Mies Cooke not only schools her pupils ef floiently, but has some excellent material on which to work, and some children of unusual intelligence. “The Children’s Happy Holiday,’’ as the play was known, proved a succession of solos and ballets in stylo, classical and eccentric, stately and gay. It was dressed in fine fashion. especially in the second act, where there was ample opportunity for Miss Cooke to give nor fancy rein, and it was put through efficiently, which hinted at no small amount of work behind the scenes. The play itself was written by Mrs G. CarwelfCooke and fell into three divisions. The first toene, the children’s playground; saw them given a holiday, which, they employed first of all by indulging in ohildish games and finally in going 10 the woods in search of fairies. Four children were given speaking parts to constitute the action —Thelma Willoughby (a pupil of Miss Gard’ner), Elsie Fry (a pupil of Mrs Myers), Eene Mahoney (a pupil of Miss Hyman), and Stella Willoughby (a pupil of Miss Gard’ner). Eight through the production these children were never far distant and usually it was some parade of theirs which explained the situations as they arose.

There followed a neat skipping ballet, with the cutest of tiny tot soloists, Nola Stitt, who danced the most involved steps so effortlessly despite the twirling rope that, when she did make a mistake, the audience gave quite a groan of disappointment. The halls in the Ball Ballot proved too elusive for the children, who nevertheless performed creditably, and a quaint touch was given to the soene t>y the work of three little green dragons (orchids). The children in this scene were:—

Skipping ballet: B. Carr, N. Roberts, G. Boyd, J. Beck, I. Boyce, J. McQueen; ball ballet: V. MoFarlane, J. Hands, G. Swinson, M. Cloueton, I. Boydi, C. Brown, E. Taylor, M. Castle; and orchids (little green dragons): L. and P. Smith, P. Barry-Smith. The second scene was laid in the fields and showed the merry-making of the harvesters and the frolics of rabbits, butterflies and dragon-flies'. It was notable for a lively, yet stately, shephere6See’ dance, such as not any maid! on her way to the dairy could perform, and for a spirited dance duot by Miss CarwellOooke and a talented little partner, I.yndsav Greig. A clever little scene, in which fungi spring from the ground, would have opened many people’s eyes. Those who find it difficult to believe that very young children oan dance gracefully should have witnessed Christine Brown’s light trippings to appreciate the full poetry of notion. The children here were:—

Haymakers—-Girls: N. Burkett, N. Smith, I. Rastall, W. Mahoney; boys: K. Bobineon, N. Hotter, P. Wilson, E. Keys. Duot: Misses Nesta CarwellOooke and Lyndeay Greig. Sheperdeases: Z. Foley, D. Wing, C- Longhurst, M. Tingey, D. McFarlane, M. Chamberlain; boy blue: Master Bonald Cloueton. Fungi: E. Hunt, J. Sidford, M. Withers, J. Paterson; King: Christine Brown. Dragonfly: Brenda Carr Butterflies: (blue) Lorna Thompson, (gold) Doreen Hill and Audrey Tanner, (red) Molly Hsson. Babbits: Z. Hutchings, E, Bradnoek, Z. Holden. The second act was more elaborate and beautiful. Gypsies revelled, fruit took legs unto themselves, the spirits of fir* and twilight fluttered into motion, gnomes, fairies, and glow-worms materialised, and all was as picturesque as a Backham dream-pioture. Miss HarwellCooke again appeared as the Spirit of Fire, in a graceful dance; there was a gypsy scene full of vim and atmosphere, and carried through in high spirits; a ballet of gnomes, which was clever and neatly done; scene of moonlights and stars, in which pupils, old and young, contributed to a neat effect; a parade of somo solemn and ingeniously dressed little owls, and a “Pipes of Pan” number, in which Mrs Alexander, off-stage, sang the song most effectively, while the children danced. Outstanding solos wore given by Moira Clouston, whose eccentric banana, dance was cleverly performed, and by Madge Castle, a girl whose work was refreshing and full of appeal. Min Mavis Chamberlain sang “Gypsy Loro" acceptably. Here the children were:—Flame Ballet—G. Swinson, M. Castle, E. Burd, V. Brown, 0. Burns, I. Boyd, D. Carstena Gipsy children—V. McFarlane, J. Beck; J Hands. Fortune teller—Doris Wing. Ballet—Girls: Z. Foley, M. King, C. Longhurst, D. McFarlane. Boys: ft. Burkett, L. Greig, M. Tingey, M. Chamberlain. Fruit Ballet—Grape, ■ Dudley Carstens; Cherry, Gwen Swinson; Ba nana, Moira Clouston; Blackberry, Ed na Burd; Orange, Madge Castle: Spirit of Twilight. Chilli is Longhurst, Shades: 11. Neale, K. Robinson, L. Itastall, W.. Mahoney, M. King, N. Burkett, N. Hod ter, E. Keys, N. Smith, E. Hunt. Gnomes—o. Burns, C. Brown, H. Bradnock, M. Besson, Z. Hutchings, Z. Holden, J. Paterson, D. Carstena. Fairioe— J. Bedford, N. Stitt, B. Priestly, M. Hunt. Glow-worms —J. McQueen, YV. Iteed, I. Wright, E. Burd, D. Keys, K Hcale. Moonlights and Stars —L. Greigi D. Wing, M. Tingey, C. Longhurst, D. McFarlane, M. Chamberlain, Brenda Carr, Gwen Boyd, Nola Roberts. OwlaB. Boyes, G. Shallcrass, E. Taylor, V. Goody, G. Rogers. Pan—Nora Hotter. Fairy Pipers—L. Thompson. O. Burns. J. Beck, ‘M. Eeson, G. Swinson, M. Castle; M. Clouston, V. McFarlane, J. Hands, D Carstons, E. Burd, I. Boyd. The orchestra was directed by Ml Frank Crowther, and rendered the music well, dispensing such popular favourite*,, as the absurd but stimulating “Ye-, We Have No Bananas" at odd momenta. Miss Nora Gray was at the piano.