GISBORNE SCHOOL CONCERT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16211, 23 August 1923, Page 4

GISBORNE SCHOOL CONCERT.

' Wheni pupils of- a school cuter wholeheartedly Vinto rehearsal for , a publicentertainment, and when. they are under hrst-claSs instruction, it is not'', surprising' that their efforts to entertain are attended ''"•-with a full measuro of j success. The Gisbome Central School concert, produced last evening at the Opera House, .was attended by an audience that packed the big hall to the doors, and thoroughly oiijoyed'evcry item -on the long and varied programme. Tho numbers included" fancy and national dancing, action songs, vocal solos and duets, instrumental items, sketches, and class choruses. ' An enormous amount of preparation must havo .been required to.hrjfig tho young perf'ormcrs to such a level of' efficiency in their various v>arts, and.to tho applause so liberally heaped upon the efforts of tho juveniles must bo added , heartiest congratulations to tho teaching .staff", each meanbe? of which undertook onerous duties in connection with the organisation. Tho length of tho programme was such that recalls could not be allowed, and it reflects the greatest Credit upon tho teachers that they were able to have tho performers in tho] various items ready to proceed at the appointed time. There was a commendable absence'of delay. The primer classes were awarded the honor of opening tho programme, with a very pretty trio of songs, "The Bell Bird/' ','Tho Fancy Artist," and "ttow the Day is Oyer," concluding amidst' ranch applause. Standard I. girls Vere'very sueeessiul in their, action'song,' "Daisies,;/.: tho performers appearing in frocks.'effectively designed to represent, daisies. A recitation by Boggy ; Lang, entitled "Groggy Pace," proyed a groat hit, the young elocutionist; being accorded .warm applause. . The skit entitled "The Eoos tor/' gave tho, Standard I. boys an opportunity of reproducing, with rcmarkablo effect, the antics c;f the farmvard. family, and also provided a veMcle for a series' of jelever tropical verses, M wthich '.various local celcbritieß "wore referred to. In another vein was tho next item; '' La Caprice, a too dance by B.aey Edwards, who wlas generously applauded for her efforts. The Staudarcl'lll. .girls were given their 'bppbrtuility in tho item, ''Bubbles,'!?' and made .the most oi tho dainty action song, thoir dressing creating a very favorable -impression. The discomfiture^-of .ambitious parents. wiho endeavor to marry their daughter to a wealthy friend, but who learn that he is .already a husband, were amusingly depleted in the dialogue, 1 i Comfortably Settled.'' A sight for score eyes was that presented by the Standard H. girls in the Maypole dance, while the Standard IV. girls, in tho item= "Splashing iii the Briny," presented a fetching cnsomble decked out m f th.e:prettiest of bathing frock's. A dialogue that won vciy warm approval from tho audience was "The Dainty Little Lady," in which Jean Boss' and' Dora Eobinson, costumed in character, gave a very finished performance. Exhibitions of skill in physical drill by both girls and boys ol the senior classes were given; with credit to.the.performers and their in structors. - An exhibition of Highland dancing by Blanche'Pitt, Ina Jukes, and Lily Millard' (Standard V. girls) opened the wcorid half) Sheila McLeod executing tho ;</ Seahn Truibhais" in a niannei that brought, forth continued rounds. of applause. A couple .of Scotch pongs, "A Hundred Pipers" and "Will Yc jNTo Come Back Again."

•were delivered /with enthusiasm. The iniuirtuble humor with -which Blanche Pitt delivered the- recitation '' "VVhei: tbo Mbiister Conies to Tea," creatci raus' ! ofkitghter, and "Red Wing,' nij, Indkui love scsug, sung by a banc of in the ftill panoply ol feathers and buck-skin, was much on joyed.' A remarkably funny item was the sketch) "The Little Dog Under thi Waggon," executed by Teddy Morrov. (elocutionist), Alan DeCdsta (farmer); ~A rthur,Haddock.(farmer's wife), Lcs * ■ tie 'Biaycj}' (Spot,,, the dog), Leslie AdaniSr.., (robber), Arthur Witty (hor*i)> The sketch was.stage man aged, by Lawrence MeLachlan. The recitation oi£ the story was accompanied by a really clever pantomime, tl'V antics of the "little dog," which •was told to stay at home, but who. running, yindcr the waggon and thus deceiving his master, eventually saved {he of the waggon from a robber*" Doing particularlv laughable. .lhe>'Kflinb«V 'ballet was danced by • a group of; senior girls, and was appreciatively received, while the' song. "China"'Town," was &ing with really fine effect by. another group, in costume. A clog dance by Mavis Laurenson was followed by the song. item.. "There's a Song Down Every Broadway," by Leicester Mawson, the possessor, of a very pretty voice. ' Eac 'Wuuchop achieved success with a graceful "Fairy Dance," aiid the niggox uiinstrcl number by the senior boy* •was ioiio of the outstanding «ucccwsc« of. the. evening. This item concluded the programme, which, included a number of iustruintental itcahs by pupils who'w'cr) members" of • Mr. DcLisac's orchestra. The orchestra ul*<o provided tho overtures. Accompaniments for bhe* various items were played by Mbses E. Wilkes,!,. Ferris, <J. Murray, N. Murphy, and E. Shaw.; Tho "stage management of the concert was,,very good, Mr. J. Curran carrying "out the heavy duties in■\iolved in a eipable manner. Mr. E. Wiggens assisted with the making up of- the juveniles, and general assistance was forthcoming from many other quaiifccTS. The concert will bo repeated this L _ 9 -