CONCERT BY MINSTRELS

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1931, Page 10

CONCERT BY MINSTRELS

SONGS, SKETCHES AND DANCES;

STRATFORD COMPANY’S SUCCESS.

Lilting melodies redolent of the southern States, repartee and topical, witticisms interspersed by . ,selected songs, sketches and tap dances—briefly/ that, was the programme which met with the warm approval of the large, audience in the Stratford Town Hall last night to hear the performance of • the Swanee Minstrels, assisted by local artists. The Primary School Committee and the Municipal Band, for which the function was arranged, should benefit materially. When the company . opened with “Cheerio” the atmosphere brightened perceptibly and a receptive feeling having been engendered- at the outset the performers did not find it difficult to please their audience, and the rounds of applause that followed every item came as sincere-, commendation.

Before . the pleasant taste left by “Cheerio” had had time to disappear Mr. P. Skoglund entered the lists with “Current Puns” and ripples of mirth spread through the .hall as he juggled deftly with words and phrases. Came three songs of characteristically “darkie” flavour before Mr.' A. Vinsen faced the footlights to pass diverse and humorous remarks which had as their target the original community garden scheme which, while in no way being held up to ridicule, was made the butt for Mr. Vinsen’s wit. A quartette and four separate songs and an item “Stratford Town,” which gave Mr. ’P. Coe ample opporunity to wander widely in search of laughs, concluded the first portion of the programme. The second half was introduced by a sketch in which Messrs. C. Till, P. Coe, A, L. McPherson and P. Healy played creditably. A departure from the usual was effected by Miss Kitty Harper, who in conjunction with one of her pupils, Gwen Brisco, executed a tap d.ance with consummate skill. ’ Another quartette item preceded MrS. Lowry s highly interesting display with illuminated clubs. Further songs and a sketch by Messrs. Skoglund and MacPherson led up to the finale “Stratford Town.” In every way the concert was-a creditable production which paid tribute to the foresight of its organisers, who chose their artists so that the best in every item might be brought out. ■The programme was: Opening chorus, “Cheerio,” company; introduction, “Current Puns,” P. Skoglund; song, V 0 Dem Golden Slippers,” A. J. Harper; “Swanee River,” P. Healy; song, My Old Kentucky Home,” B. Bellringer; song, “Community Garden,” A. Vinsen; quartette, Messrs. Bellringer, P. Coe, R. Hook and A. L. MacPherson; song, ‘Old Folks,” R. Hignett; song, “Susannah/ P. C. Brennan; song, “Old Black Joe,” A L MacPherson; finale, “Stratford Town," P. Coe; sketch, “Dreadnought,’ Messrs. Till, Coe, MacPherson and Healy; song, “The Stoker,” P. Coe; song, Mrs. Mcßeth; song, B. Bell •’lnger; tap dance, Miss K. ’Harper and pupil; illuminated clubs, Mrs. Lowry; song, . M. MacPherson; sketch, “On Guard, Messrs. Skoglund and MacPherson; finale, “Stratford Town.” Throughout the performance repartee was bandied freely among Massa Johnson (Mr. P. Skoglund), Bones and Tambo. The soloists were ably supported by the company’s chorus work. An orchestra of 11 instruments conducted by Mr. H. McCaskill, with Miss E. Moon at the piano, played overtures and accompaniments. '

DEMONSTRATION FARMING.

STRATFORD SOCIETY MEETS. At the monthly meeting of the Stratford Demonstration Farm Society there were present: Messrs. J. M. Smith (chairman), J. W. Boon, W. H. Were, K. Tarrant, Mr. Cullough (fields superintendent,' Department of Agriculture), E. Marfell, C. C. Henderson. (farm manager) and later Messrs. C. A. Marchant and W. N. Willans. \ . . , ■The meeting was of the opinion that one committee could now combine and function in respect of farm and stock, .and Messrs. Marfell, Marchant Were and Tarrant were appointed. Mr. E. .Marfell and the secretary were appointed a finance committee. Mr. Marfell reported that fair, piogross was being made with erection of silos. ' , The chairman reported regarding the request from the Department of Agriculture for an area to conduct certain trials with swedes and or turnips, and it was resolved that two acres be made available to the department. ELTHAM THEATRE. “THE LAST OF THE DUANES.” No more thrilling and absorbingly interesting story was ever filmed than the ‘-Last of the Duanes,” Fox Movietone’s all-talking romance of the Southwest, which will be shown at Eltham to-night. It if. based on Zane Grey’s most colourful romance of the great South-west. It is a thrilling tale of a handsome young outlaw and his adventures in the wide open spaces. After killing his' father’s cowardly assassin lie becomes*an outlaw, but eventually, stimulated by the love of a beautiful girl, he takes his rightful place in society. George O’Brien heads a strong cast consisting of Lucile Browne, Myrna Loy and Walter McGrail, among others. The picture was filmed and recorded on location in a picturesque section of Arizona, making it a picture of great scenic value apart from its great Human appeal.