“JERQUES.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19259, 25 August 1924, Page 9

“JERQUES.”

A SPECTACULAR ENTERTAINMENT. . Y.M.C.A. TO BENEFIT. One of the most successful amateur en-< tertainnients staged at His Majesl3!.>* Theatre for a considerable time was given on Saturday afternoon and evening, when “Jerques,” in which ."of performers tpofe i( part, was presented before largo audiences. . - At the afternoon performance there werg but few unoccupied seats, while in this.,, evening the theatre was filled in every portion of the building, and many were , unable to gain admittance. The enter-, tainmont, in which producers, and orchestra gave their services voluu.-;,, tarily, was to augment the funds of the • . Young Men’s Christian Association, itthd thus enable that worthy Institution to ex-,.f tend its work among the young men and.;; boys of Dunedin. It was early evident; that much detail work and thorough'or-' , lt , ganisation extending over a period 'of-..T: months had been carried out, and the fe«i r y suit attained was a great credit to ‘prpj ducers and performers. The arrnngpsjteiu,,, of the various tableaux, the setting and ; costuming, and the lighting effects, mUsjtjr have entailed considerable thought, 1 ; the result was a first-class entcrtaintn#rit.'->f The aim of (he producers was to present the annual physical drill display.by mem- . burs of the. Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A. a much more lavish and extensive scam, V than has been the case in the past, and, oik. . the most was made of the staging ( an«* lighting effects, the entertainment a theatrical production instead of merely. a display of calisthenics and gymnastic work. Much praise is due to Mr Jl, V. Hanna (physical director at the Y.MIC.'A.I and Messrs Percy James and A. P. Royd J house, who were the stage managert-T> Messrs Hanna and Roydhouso were respou—f' si hie for the physical drill displays," anfl's Mr James for the very successful staging ll ' and lighting effects. \i The entertainment opened with a- dgmcSl'* l '- stration of hoop drill by a squad of"bbYd*-* of from four to nine years of age, and tab • little lads, who appeared in neat gymnastic suits, immediately found great favour with the audience, who rewarded them with very hearty applause. A squad of secondary school boys then gave an exhibition of “stunt” drill, and their rapid formation of living triangles was also very cffleaijvCThe primary school boys, from 12 to 15 years of age, gave a very interesting dumb-, bell display. The more advanced stages bx the work of the Y.M.C.A, physical • drill-' classes was demonstrated by the seniors/' and the benefit to be derived from such* J exercises was evident by the agility, of J these athletes. During the second half the seniors gave a display of horizontal and parallel bar work, and, at the conclusion, formed a number of living pyramids.

A display of humorous comedy tumbling by Messrs K. Calder, U. Everett, and G. M'Pherson . proved very entertaining, and (lie trio showed Unit they were acrobats of considerable ability, and the audience manifested its appreciation by vigorous applause. Mr Norman Tate, the “New Zealand Cinquevalli,” gave an exhibition ol clever balancing tricks, 4 and his final* ■; “stunt,” the simultaneous balancing of a straw hat on a walking-stick from his forehead, the juggling of three balls, and the playing’ of “Homo, Sweet Hqhig* on a mouth organ evoked a storm Of applause. .. A bracketed item entitled “Gymnastic Dances.” to the music of "Wonderful One’'; and “Three O’clock in the Morning.” by ■> a squad of girls dressed as pierrettes Was also greatly appreciated by the. audience. These dances wore developed from simple drill movements, mostly leg exercises, which when carried out In this manner, brought about general activity of the body,, and helped to create rhythm and grace aa v well as being a social and recreative form, , of exercise. A squad of girls from 12 to . v 10 years of age then gave a series of de- ; pertinent exercises, and the result of such training was seen in,the graceful carriage and agility of movement of the girls. The members of the Ladies’ Class, who gave a “spectacular and poetical expres&Oa of long wands,” scored heavily with the audience, which applauded vigorously. They were dressed as pierrettes, and wora" placed in alternate rows of black and black and white. The glistening of their king silver wands in the various colours thrown ‘ by the spotlights, and their graceful moW meats made a particularly pleasing effect, -' and this item was evidently regarded bt . the audience as one of the most fasciho.tr dug -of the evening.' . In the second' half of the programme the ~ members of the Ladies’ Class were again enthusiastically applauded for their Work with golden wands, and the colour clfeota greatly enhanced the spectacle. The iliummated club swinging by the same; £eSv,: formers, under their loader (Miss J. Pa tricky, will long be remembered by those who witnessed it as the Hashing of the Jhlije 1 dud „ red bulbs on the rapidly swinging clu}»'_; x made a spectacular display. ,C‘ . Skipping drill and the scena “Winter' Time, ' by girls from four to 11 years of ago, was another very pretty scone. Miaa Avas Lavender was tho soloist. The little girls, who were dressed in white, with white hats, executed various skipping movements, 1 ’ and the use of artificial snow produced fti''} very fine effect. ■ :r; * During the first half Miss Netta,-Keats'S l ;? class executed a Napolitaine Dance, and 1 the' ll ' : - audience showed its appreciation by 1 urt- r, 't stinted applause. The following took the ; 1 various parts: Castanet solo, MisSChristie; tambourine duo. Misses K. Todd and B. Cooper; Corpe de Ballet—Misses' : ' G. Chapman and V. Sunam, N. Whollan sod’ K. Lord; song (“La Palonia”), Miss' D. '-".I Crossan; Tango, Miss N. Kdates; J Juloo do Jarez, Misses G. Hard mart,’ ' I. M‘Gregor, V. !Rix, B. Morton, LV Jeffs, and D. M’Boath. in tho latter half tho programme Miss Netta Keats’s Class again delighted the audience with a classical dance, "The Enchanted Pool,” and tfatat beautiful effect of tho coloured lights on the graceful dancers was a delight to witness. The poetry of motion was exemplified in every movement, and tho graceful poses and grouping were very pleasing. The parts were taken by the following;- 1 -' Frog, Miss Vera Rix; Peacock, Miss Giadysi Cressun; Butterfly, Miss Given Chapman f -j a Forest Fairy, Miss Ada Phillips; WatbP 1 ’ 11 ;' Lillies, Miss V. Sunam, J. Guthrie, L, - Slow by; Water Sprites-Misses G. Hardman, G. Perry, E. Smeaton, I. M’Gl'egor, L. Jeffs, D. Norton, F. Blackwood,vind D. M'Beath.

• The gymnastic displays were interspersed • with items by the following, who ■ each ' gained very hearty applause Piano solty, ' “Hhapsodie Hon Groiso,” Master J. Roberts; songs—“ Starlight” (H. Lohv) and ' “Far Across tho Desert Sands,” Miss AlicA Wilkinfcon ; “April Morn,” Mias Helen | Grant; selected, Mias Hazel Hannan; “Tho .;. 1 Glory of the Sea,” Mr F. C. Cooper 1 ; 1 - humorous sketches, “Hurricane History” , • and “The Bassoon,” Mr Percy Jamos; and”' humorous recitations, Mr K. Hendry. Much of the success of the entertainment

depended on the orchestra, which supplied; the music for practically very itotn, and it acquitted itself well. Mrs W. Haiggitt. was the musical directress, and it must have been gratifying to her to so© the younger folk acquit themselves so creditably in the various songs,and soenas she had taught them. Mr J. Wallace waa the leader of (he orchestra. The grand linalo was a “March of Empire,” in which particularly all the performers took part, and the formation of an open square by rows of girls in costujnft representing England, Scotland, Ireland,, and Wales and the various dominions produced a striking effect, and the lifting of a drop curtain which revealed Britannia seated on a throne in the background, made a fine climax. A verse of “Rule Britannia” was then snug, followed by the National Anthem, which brought the entertainment to a close. “Jerques” will bo presented for the lasttime to-night. "■