LADIES’ PIPE BAND

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6603, 23 May 1925, Page 5

LADIES’ PIPE BAND

POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT It was unfortunate that the weather should have been so unfavourable for the visit of the Australian Scottish Ladies’ Pipe Band. In the circumstances the audience was a good one and the company could not have wished for a mofe favourable or enthusiastic reception. As a Pipe Band, composed wholly of Ihdies, the company is worth going far to hear, but they don’t rely on the pipers for the means by which they entertain, and a large part of the programme was devoted to songs, elocutionary items and dancing. The opening song, “Just a Sprig of Golden Wattle,” by Drum-Major William Darwin, F.R. G.S., was not the best introductory number that could have been selected, and it did not make the same appeal as it would in Australia, but interest deepened with every item and single recalls soon failed to satisfy, some performers being brought back as many as four times.. Unusual generosity was shown in responding to encores and the members of the company always seemed to keep their best in reserve. The reels were danced with that spirit and perfection which only the Scotch can show, and enthusiasm rose high as four girls, to the music of the bagpipes, gave an exhibition of this highly favoured form of Scottish dancing. Immediately after Miss Jean Madson danced the Irish Jig, winning a great burst of applause. The song “I Passed by Your Window” was prettily sung by Miss Leura Bates, and then Misses Stanbridge and Buchanan played a pipe duet. A band of girls daintily and gracefully went through that old fashioned dance the Minuet, while they sang a selection of songs, and this was one of the most pleasing items oh the whole programme. Miss Leura Bates ranks high as an elocutionist, and her gifts and repertoire would enable her to entertain an audience for an unlimited time. She has a deep euphoneous voice, her enunciation was excellent, and she added to her natural gifts the powers acquired by study and training. The drum solo could only be the marked success it was with such an artist as Miss Layburn handling the sticks. Not since the visit of the “Besses of the Barn Band” has such clever work in this connection be seen. The staff-swing-ing by Drum-Major Darwin aroused astonishment and admiration, and the Scotch songs by Miss Ash fired the patriotism of every Scotchman and brought prolonged applause from the whole audience. Her chief successes were registered in the second half of the programme, when she interpreted some of the most familiar of Scotch songs. Some very pretty dancing was done by Miss Gertie Oliver and Miss Jean Madson. All the members of the company acquitted themselves well, whether it was song, story, dance or pipes, and the programme, owing to the number of recalls, was not completed till a very late hour. It was announced that a return visit may be paid to Te Aroha before the Company finally leaves New Zealand.