“CINDERELLA” PRESENTED

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1929, Page 6

“CINDERELLA” PRESENTED

CHILDREN’S DANCING PLEASES. THE COSTUMING MAGNIFICENT. When all the artists in an amateur performance are juveniles it is usually the case that proud mothers and fathers, younger sisters and brothers, and other interested relatives form the major part of the audience. But at the Hawera Opera House on Friday night a large proportion of those present consisted of the connoisseurs, those critical judges who attend all high-class performances and, if it is warranted, seize upon the weaknesses displayed, dissect them and scatter them to the four winds. Perhaps no greater compliment could h’ave been paid Miss Audrey Hughes-Johnson and Miss Maisie Instone, whose pupils, in song, dance and story, played “Cinderella,” than the presence of such critics . And really the children delighted. Tiny tots, some only three years of age, displayed the insouciance of seasoned performers, although as the hour of eleven approached some nibbed chubby little hands into sleepy eyes and scanned the hall for mamma and papa. About that time, however, three huge tables, laden with boxes of • chocolates, bouquets and presents, were carried on to the stage and—the transformation was wonderful. Bright-eyed and merry children eagerly participated in the distribution of the good things. The costuming of the performers was magnificent', and it is said that nothing like it has been seen before in Hawera. The first half of the programme was taken up with ballets, solo dances and dialogues, while “Cinderella” occupied the second half. Four little ladybirds, Peggy Claringbold, Rosemary Joll, Joy Winks and Alison Corrigan, toddled on to the stage as a commencement to the butterfly ballet. The little ones were rather stage shy at the start, and it might

have been a wiser plan to have made the entry with more experienced performers. The butterflies, Betty Claringbold, Nonna Thomas, Christine McLaren, Cynthia Graham, Winnie Nicholson, Joan Anderson, Joyce Goodwin, Joyce Knightbridge, Myra Nowell, Sylvia Davy and Gwen Williams, fluttered effectively and the soloists, Junne Goodwin, Joan Thomas and Trevor Hunter, played prettily. NEAT DANCING NUMBERS. The singing of Dorothy Brown in “Buy My Strawberries,” was sweet but she received scarcely enough assistance from her chorus girls, Tui Cann, V. Jones, D. M, Thomson, M. Smith and N. Turnbull. . It was, nevertheless, an attractive number with the various dances executed neatly. Perhaps what appealed to the male portion of the audience most were the skipping dances of Joyce Hayward, Norma Thomas and Trevor Hunter. It is hardly likely that the young ladies have heard of Georges Carpentier, the French pugilist, who was a wonderful skipper and attracted thousands to see him manipulating the rope. Even the great Georges would have been amazed at the ability shown by the trio of skippers. Junne Goodwin delighted all with the manner in which she performed the “Balloon Dance,” and “The Hunter,” danced by Trevor Hunter, was exceedingly well done. The syncopation of the modern toe dances by Ula Jones and Ora Jones was catching, and the dancers were loudly applauded. A bevy of Lilliputian maidens appeared in “Golliwog’s Party,” a novel number in which Guy Golly (Junne Goodwin) told new-fashioned rhymes for old-fashioned people. The dialogue was marred in places by the affectation of some of the characters.

The 'characters were: Mother Goose, Tui Cann; Guy Golly, Junne Goodwin; Anthony Rowley, Christine McLaren; Mistress Mary, Joyce Mclntyre; Old King Cole, No rma Thomas; Miss Muffitt, Joyce Spratt; 80-Peep, Pat Brennan; Jack Horner, Iris MacDonald; Queen of Hearts, Cynthia Graham; Christabel, Jo Brennan.

Stella Vernon danced with, all the abandon of vivacious senorita in the “Mexican Dance,” while Shirley Crammond, in the “Gipsy Dance” and “Autumn,” was charming. Portrayed in the library at midnight, “The Enchanted Hour” was a whimsical fancy in which Goldilocks (June Joll), the Mad Hatter (Joan Anderson), Alice in Wonderland (Norma Thomas), and Red Riding Hood (Junne Goodwin) frolicked and ' danced with the waifs (Audrey McLaren and Trevor Hunter), TINY TOTS CAPTIVATE. - : Six tiny toits, alike as the spots on their costumes, appeared in “Jemima,” a captivating number.. They were C. McLaren, N. Thomas, J. Goodwin, J. Spratt, J. Mclntyre and C. Graham. “My Lady Dragon Fly” told how, through the long hours of the winter, the denizens of the silver pool had been sleeping and how summer arrived and all was bright and gay again. Those who took part were: My Lady Dragon Fly, Audrey McLaren; ' Dragon Fly, Joan Thomas; The Sun, Ora Jones; The Frog, Cedric Whittington;,Golden Days, Junne Goodwin, Cynthia Graham, Christine McLaren, Winnie Nicholson, Joan Anderson, Nonna Thomas; Spring, Sheila Douglas, Ursula Douglas, Margaret Douglas, Betty Claringbold, Gwen Williams; Summer, Joyce Goodwin, Sylvia Davy, Trevor Hunter and June Joll.

. The presentation of “Cinderella” was a delight. There were three scenes, “The Kitchen,” “The Corridor of the Palace,” and “The Garden,” each captivating the audience. As “Cinderella,” Joyce Goodwin played the part exceptionally well. Her cruel sisters, Patience (Vi Jones) and Charity (Nancy Turnbull) received their just rewards. The others in the cast were: Papa, Veronica Quin; Fairy Godmother, Joyce Knightbridge; Tiny Fairy, Joyce Spratt; Lady Guy, Averil Appleyard; Attendant, Bruce Mclntyre; A Lady, Dorothy Brown; A Courtier, Mavis Smith; Prince Charming, Doris Gilmore. Fairies—Dancers: Junne Goodwin, Norma Thomas, Joan Anderson, Winnie Nicholson, Christine McLaren, Cynthia Graham. Others: Jo Brennan, Pal Brennan, Francis Linn, Iris McDonald. Pumpkin Solo-Dance: Audrey McLaren. Ballet of Mice: Joy Winks, Rosemary Joll, Joyce Mclntyre, Betty Claringbold, Peggy Claringbold, Myra Nowell. Rats: Mary Thomson, Sylvia Davy. Dance of Dish Mop: Stella Vernon. Gavotte: Junne Goodwin, Cynthia Graham, Christine McLaren, Joan Anderson, Doris Crocker, Peggy Claiingbold, Rosemary Joll, Joy Winks, Alison Corrigan, Mirian Ablett, Audrey Williams, Betty Claringbold. Soloists: My Lady’s Fan: Joyce Hayward. Jester: I Audrey McLaren. Spirit of Clock: Joan

Thomas. Romance —Soloists: Stella Vernon and Ora Jones. Ballet: Tui Cann, Mary Thomson, Trevor Hunter, Audrey McLaren, Joan Thomas, Norma Thomas, Junne Goodwin, Sylvia Davy. Cupid: Christine McLaren. The orchestra, Mrs. R. A. Graham (planiste), Mr. Cate (violin), Mr. H. N. Lester (’cellist), and the stage manager, Mr. J. C. Findlater, lent excellent support to the performers.