CAVERSHAM SCHOOL CHOIR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22716, 31 October 1935, Page 11

CAVERSHAM SCHOOL CHOIR

SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL CONCERT The annual concert by the Caversham School Choir, which was presented before a large audience in his Majesty's Theatre last evening, fully maintained the high standard of juvenile entertainment set by previous concerts, the general arrangement of the programme, which included an excellent variety of items ranging from choral numbers to a burlesque, and the genuine enthusiasm with which the pupils carried out their work, arguing careful and sympathetic preparation at the hands of the organisers. A feature of the entertainment was the dainty and effective dressing in the costume numbers, no pains having been spared to make these items as colourful and interesting as possible, while the atmosphere of spontaneity which pervaded the concert as a whole also had a special appeal for the audience, all the efforts of the young performers being warmly received. Under the direction of Mr R. Johnston, the thoroughness of whose tuition received ample evidence during the choral presentations, the choir sang the opening numbers, " The Smuggler's Song," and " Sweet and Low," the latter an unaccompanied part-song, very sweetly, and later presented " Song of the Volga Boatmen," and "Oh! Evening Bell" in a manner which demonstrated unusual part-singing ability for such young choristers. Three Maori items, "Te Taniwha," " Hold, Hoki, Tonu Mai," and " Pakia," were also highly successful numbers, the singing being crisp and full of life. In the second half of the concert the choir's numbers were " Moonlight," "A Little Bit of Heaven," and " She is Far From the Land," all of which were attractively presented, the concert concluding with good performances of "The Bridal Wreath," and "The Stockriders' Song." The action song " The Sandman," by the girls of Standard lib, was prettily done, and an indication of the considerable amount of trouble which had been gone to in providing the proper atmosphere for the costume numbers was given in " Robin Hood's Wedding," by the pupils of Standard IVa. Robin Hood and his merrie men, accompanied by dainty ladies from the court of King Richard, sang this excerpt from " Merrie England" with great success, such side-lights as an archery contest providing the audience with considerable material for amusement The Standard V boys presented an amusing burlesque entitled " The Sixth Form at Caversham," in which the master was eventually routed in a wrestling match with the school dunce, and a pleasing song scena entitled " Bedtime," in which a classical ballet of four performed very attractively, was provided by members of the choir. The Standard 111 boys, appropriately attired as bluejackets, sang the sea chanties "A-rov-ing" and "Roll de Cotton Down" in engaging style, and an interesting exhibition of marching and exercises designed to promote poise and grace was given by the Standard V girls. A short "A Game of Bowls," depicting the historic incident of Sir Francis Drake's receipt of the news that the Armada was in the Channel, enabled a number of boys from Standard Ilia to give a good account of themselves in character studies, the variety portion of

the entertainment concluding with aD attractive display of dancing by the girls of the school, in which the young dancers, prettily froeked, went through a long series of evolutions which were both cleverly designed and gracefully executed-