DELIGHTFUL CINDERELLA

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1930, Page 7

DELIGHTFUL CINDERELLA

POPULAR REPEAT PERFORMANCE

MISS RILEY AND HER PUPILS.

Talented and wholly delightful dancing, graceful acting and rhythmical and easy tap-dancing characterised the repeat performance of "Cinderella” by Miss Elwyn Riley and her pupils in the New Plymouth Opera House last nignt, when a crowded house was carried through the three acts of the pantomime in appreciative enthusiasm. It was a happy thought that prompted many of the townspeople to ask Miss Riley to repeat the pantomime and so enable the many who were turned away on the last occasion to enjoy the old story acted in refreshing and accomplished style amid settings of surpassing beauty. Except for a Swanee River Clog dance by Miss Riley herself the programme was similar to the last one.

Had the success of the pantomime been for a moment in doubt the natural acting and sweet personality of Miss Joyce McHardie, who played the part of Cinderella, would have carried it to a successful and singularly happy ending. But from a bright opening scene the tiny tots and the older and more accomplished characters, danced and sang their cnarmIng way until the Prince found Uin-_ derella in her kitchen maid’s clothes in the' tuhp garden outside her home, and carried her away. The story needs no recounting—but the way in which it was interpreted by Miss Riley’s pupils cannot receive too many appreciative words. On Miss Riley herself, of course, tell the major portion of the work. In every dance and every scene could be traced her guiding hand. /Ind when she appeared in solo dances the appreciative audience left no doubt as to the regard in which it held her exceptional talent. She appeared in two solo dances, a clog dance and in the tap routine with the men dancers. Misses R. Gibson and K. Wilkie in the roles of the cruel sisters, Charity and Patience, and Miss Gwen Riley as the Baron (Papa) created distinctly good impressions with the sincerity of their acting. These girls were equally well received in dance numbers. The fairy godmother, Waveney Martin, weaved in and out among her delightful little “fairies” and, by sheer personality saw the tiny tots through some difficult scenes. Miss Mona Martin made an appealing Prince Charming.

A feature of the show was the flawless dancing of the tap-dancers, Messrs. P. Moyes, A. Pepperill, J. Sleep, F. Knott, A. and W. Morris, who were recalled several times. The ladies of the ballet -.ver© also very popularity received.