TIKITIKI NEWS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19503, 9 December 1937, Page 18

TIKITIKI NEWS

SCHOOL CONCERT FINE PERFORMANCE (Herald Correspondent.) The picture theatre in Tikitiki was packed to capacity last Friday evening when the children of the Tikitiki Native School presented their annual concert. It was very pleasing to see the interest taken in the function by the local people, while many visitors from Ruatoria to Te Araroa were noted among the audience. Much credit is due to the head teacher, Mr. A. Dobson, Mrs. Dobson and the staff for the excellent entertainment achieved. The difficulties confronted in the theatre, which has really no facilities for concert work, were admirably overcome. The costuming, which is always a big problem, was particularly good, adding colour and character to the items. This was in the artistic hands of Miss Jean Yates and is deserving of high praise for the cleverness and aptness of design. Miss H. Fox and Mr. A. Dobson supplied the music for the dances and songs. The stage decorations were most effectively carried out in greenery interspersed with multi-coloured paper flowers, which combined to make a pleasing background for the items. The senior girls after the singing of the National Anthem opened the programme with a welcoming action song led by Rawinia Shelford. This was followed by a playette, “Babes In the Wood,” acted by the younger children. The appearance on the stage of the babes themselves, little Materoa Mitchell and Walker Moretc, drew much applause. The part of the King was suitably taken by Don Farrel, while the evil plotting of the two robbers, Jim Coats and Barney Taare, was greatly enjoyed by the audience. The robbins, too, as they hopped about in their quaint little brown costumes, were very realistic, while Charlotte Cross as the Fairy Queen was loudly applauded as she led her fairies in to bring the play to a happy conclusion. Another much appreciated item was “The Changing of the Guard,” by the senior girls, who in their gay soldiers’ uniforms held the attention of the audience. A novel background for this was a picket fence against which the crowd “pressed their noses thru’ the rails." The school choir under Miss .1. Archibald entertained with several songs during the evening, the most popular perhaps being "Going to Lay Down My Burden,' - which was sweetly siiurr in parts. “Sambo’s Party," a nigger item in which the children let themselves go with enthusiasm, was outstandingly successful, bringing round after round of applause. After the interval the senior pupils '-’f'Mrrbtrvi the audience with a play, “The Willow Pattern Plate." This was well acted and the children, whose silken yobes gave the necessary Oriental atmosphere, lived the various parts with animation. The stage proiwrties as seen on the willow pattern plate were very effective and must have entailed considerable work. Another item by the senior pupils which was preatly eniived was "The Endless Tale," in which Shirley Ormundsen gave a fine representation of the dissatisfied despotic monarch. A popular item of the evening was

the poi dance by the senior girls. The music in this was excellent and the girls, in perfect rhythm, went through the graceful movements of the long poi. As the climax came, the stage was a real picture. Short pois twirled merrily in the hands of girls raised in the background, while in front of the long poi girls, a canoe poi sprang to life, urged on by two youthful warriors. The play "The Two Questions” also was deserving of mention for the actors presented it in a brisk, straightforward manner. The acting of the abbot was particuuarly good. Before the final item Mr. Dave Green, chairman of the school committee, and Mr. Wilcox, a committee member, thanked -those present for their support and complimented the school staff and pupils on the fine concert produced. Mr. Green stated that the proceeds from the concert were to be used for school improvements.