SPARKLING COMIC OPERA

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1930, Page 12

SPARKLING COMIC OPERA

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ PRODUCTION.

“PINAFORE” A MUSICAL TREAT.

What would English entertainment have been without Gilbert and Sullivan? The passage of years has not impaired the exquisite humour of Gilbert nor lessened the appeal of Sullivan’s melodics. It was a happy choice, therefore, when the Hawera High School girls selected the old favourite “Pinafore” for production last night, and the full house, attracted in part by the name, left satisfied with the way. the young actresses had interpreted the work of the masters of comic opera. In the singing, both of principals and choir, in the costuming, in the staging and effects, and in the acting there was practically no essential lacking. And if gome of the parts were a little heavy for girls’ voices it was a point that passed practically unnoticed in the general excellence of the show. To the headmaster, Mr. A. Gray, much of the success of the production is due. With the assistance of the staff he personally trained the girls, and the result was happy. The costuming / was under the direction of Miss Earl, and Miss Garnett made the wigs. Mr. J. C. Findlater had charge of the stage. There were some excellent characterisations by members of the cast, and none was better than “Ralph Rackstraw,” interpreted by Olga Hancock. Her acting was good and, with a contralto voice well above the average, she capably handled the not very easy tenor part. Two other good performances were given by Elsie Twaddle and Nance Gray. The former made an appealing heroine and ■acted and sang in the aproved Savoy manner. Nance Gray had a difficult part as “Sir Joseph Porter” and did remarkably well in sustaining it These three characters were particularly good.

Gean Robb was another who was given, a hard, characterisation, that of “Dick Deadeye,” so that her performance was all the more meritorious, and the same comment applied to Audrey Harding, “The Boatswain.” Peggy Morris acted the part of “Captain Corcoran”. very well, and this made up for any difficulty she may have had with the songs. Winifred Howell (“Hebe”) and Pearls Gane (“Little Buttercup”), the other feminine parts, were well sflited by the casting and gave attractive performances. Pearl Gane sang Very prettily, while Winifred Howell led the “First Lord’s” sisters, cousins and aunt very capably. ' In a small part Joyce Goodwin made a sprightly midshipmate. The opening chorus, “We Sail the Ocean Blue,” went with a swing, and its repetition later found the chorus at its best. Buttercup’s song was nicely handled, while Sir Joseph Porter’s well-known number, telling how he rose from polishing the knob of the big front door to be ruler of the Queen’s Navee, was much appreciated by the audience. The best number of the first act was, however, the. duet between Josephine and Ralph, “Refrain, Audacious Tar.” For such young performers their singing was really remarkable. , “Things are Seldom What they-Seem” is a typically Gilbertian lyric with d setting that’ only Sullivan coiild have devised. Buttercup' and the captain were very elective in it, and it was one of the best songs of the second art. “A Many Years Ago” was another popular number well sung, while the finale came as a fitting conclusion to a stirring production.

The chorus sang well throughout and contrived to give the work of the principals a suitable nautical background. The members were: —■

Ladies Olive Archbold, Gwen Bernard, Helen Collins, Sylvia Davy, Ola Dillon, Millie Goldstone, Muriel Grant, Alison Hunter, Vivien Jones, Rose Marchant, Ola McAnerin, Molly McKinnon, Zara Morris, Joan Murray, Joan Nelson, Iris Nicholas, Zita Nicholas, Aimee Small, Joan Thomas, Winnie Trim, Alison Watts, Betty Woods, Peggy Yearbury. ,; Sailofs:—Merle Adamson, Vera Allan, May Allan, ’Frances Best, Ruth Bray, Doreen Brown, Peggy Brown, Betty Brant, Edna Cameron, Lorna Campbell, Barbara Campbell, Monda Collins, Joyce Crutch, Phyllis Death, Lorna Elmes, Joyce England, Elizabeth Evans, Verena Findlater, Barbara Foy, Rose George, Hazel Holland, Leila Hurliman, Lesley Hotter, June Johnston, Jocelyn Lennon, Vadne Lord, Clare McDonald, Amy Manners, Esme Manners, Gwen Masters, Rona Meharry, Reta McNeill, Lily Mortimer, Thelma Mullins, Jean Murray, Patricia Murray, Doreen Nairn, Rita Nicholas, Patricia Newell, Mary O’Dea, Jessie Oliver, Hazel Phillips, Ngaira Prince, Peggy Robertson, Phyllis Schwieters, Mavis Smith, Bessie Seed, Norma Taylor, Jean Thomas, Pattie Tonkin, Frances Thomson, Vivienne , Westwood, Joan Whitehead, Barbara Woods, Frances Wills, Mabel Wyatt, Tui Wyatt, Margaret Young. Much of the scenery had been specially painted for the production. The imitation of the deck of a warship of the wooden walls period was convincing, and a glimpse of the harbour in the background added to the realism. The orchestra was under the baton of Mr. H. C. A. Fox. The success of any show largely depends upon. the instrumental atmosphere, and there was nothing lacking in this department last night. The accompaniments were sympathetically played. COMBINED SPORTS MEETING. SMALL FIELDS AT- HAWERA. In spite of favourable weather entries were comparatively few at the weekly combined meeting of the Hawera, Eltham and Stratford Amateur Athletic Clubs at the showgrounds, Hawera, last night. The field events were certainly well patronised, but the numbers starting, in the track races were generally small. Two or three minor events were abandoned. Results are:—One Mile Cycle.—A. D. Adlam (S) 25 yds. 1, K. Foy (H) 90yds. 2, A. Hart (H) 90yds. 3. , 120 Yards Hurdles.—First heat: D. Jones (8) 10yds. low 1 down 1, L. A. Newall (H) scr. high 2; 16 2-ssec. Second heat: B. Horrocks (E) 1, S. Lay (H) scr. high 1 down 2; 17 3-ssec. Final: Jones 1, Newall 2, Lay 3; 16 l-ssec. Ladies 100 Yards.—Miss J. Reid (H) 12yds. 1, Miss M. Peters (H) 9yds. 2, Miss E. Reid (H) 7&yds. 3; 12 3-ssec. 100 Yards.—J. A.' Hamilton (8) 21 yds. 1, D. Jones (S) 6yds. 2, T. Lay (H) 9yds. 3; 10 2-ssec. 220 Yards Handicap.—M. Prince (E) 12yds. 1, J. Whiting (E) 22yds. 2, J. Hamilton (S) Byds. 3. , Hammer Throwing.—L. Hunt (H), 10 ft,. 120 ft. 6in., 1; W. Ritter (H) 20ft„ 114 ft. 2in., 2; A. D. Adlam (S) 26ft., 113 ft., 3. .Secondary School 440 Yards, boys.— B. Thomas 2syds. 1, W. Byrd (S) 40yds. 2, B. Horrocks (E) 15yds. 3; 57 2-ssec.

Two-mile Cycle.—A. D. Adlam (S) 40 yds. 1, E. Tipler (E) B.syds. 2, K. Foy (H) 100yds. 3; smin. 31 l-ssec. 880 Yards.—-J. Carryer (S) 65yds. I, C. Cleaver (E) 75yds. 2, G. Irving (S)' 60vds. 5.

Discus.—S. Lay (H), 23ft.,“ 130 ft., 1; A. Newall (H), 45ft., 125 ft. 9in., 2; H. Barton (H), 25ft., 120 ft. Bin., 3. Long Jump.—B. Horrocks (E), 2ft. Sin., 20ft. Ilin., 1; A. Newall (H) scr., 20ft. Bin„ 2; S. Lay (H), Ift., 20ft. in., 3-