CATHOLIC BAZAAR.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16623, 20 October 1925, Page 5

CATHOLIC BAZAAR.

SUCCESSFUL OPENING. THE CAUSE OF EDUCATION. £IOOO WANTED. It must have been very gratifying to those ladies and gentlemen who, for many months past, have been industriously engaged in the organisation, to note the undoubted .success that attended the opening of the Catholic Bazaar at the King’s Theatre last night. The entertainment and sales will be extended over five nights, and the proceeds will be devoted to paying off the £IOOO debt on the handsome school building in Willoughby Street. The fact that the parishioners have raised £2500 of the original cost (£3500) in two and a half years, was the subject of eulogistic reference in the opening speech of the Deputy-Mayor (Mr Wm. Bongard), who wished the promoters the utmost possible success in their objective to liquidate the remaining debt of £IOOO. (Applause.) A Gay Scene.

The ground floor of the hall had been converted into a miniature fairyland, when the curtain rose for the opening dance’ item.

Although there were only four stalls they were so arranged and distributed as to give eager buyers every facility for quick purchasing. Balloons and coloured lights were freely used in the decorative scheme, the trellised archways giving effective relief, as well as affording a distinctive background for flower decorations. Bargaining was brisk and keen, and the popularity of the purpose of the bazaar was demonstrated by the ready manner in which spectators of all creeds and classes parted with their money for the usual art unions. These latter were many and varied, and ranged from alluvial gold to some valuable Valvoise paintings. The .spectators in the upstairs portion of the hall were entertained at intervals by a programme of children’s dances under the direction of Miss Eileen Beresford, of Auckland. The dances for the most part depended on the costuming for their appeal to popularity, and were successful in this respect. The most popula/r items were probably the “Ballet of the Chickens,” “An Old-Fashioned Picture,” with Patty -Clark as the central figure, “The Tramps’ Ballet,” with a pleasing song by Mr L. Mcllvride. In "The Lullaby Train,” Gladys Harvey successfully preserved the dignity of a stationmaster. Finale.

The finale consisted of a Chinese scena, in which well over twenty performers held the attention of ,the audience for twenty minutes. A mandarin held court, attended by dancing girls, princes and princesses and guards, who enacted a story of Chinese life in a colourful Eastern setting. The costuming of this number was particularly attractive, as was the dancing and singing of the Misses Wilma Grubb, Mavis Hayward, Edna Rowe and Francis Taiparj. The full programme was as follows: Balloon Ballet: Soloists, Miss Mavis Hayward and Mr Wells. . Rabbit Dance: Gladys Harvey. Ballet of the Chickens: Joan Wells (chick), Kathleen Stevens , (duckling), Betty Duffield (hen.) Old-Fashioned Picture: Patty Clark, Hilda Doidge, and Lily Hoare. Exhibition Fox-Trot: Joan Roberts and D. Rockley. ( Duo: Mavis Hayward and L. Mcllvride. Lullaby Train: Gladys Harvey (stationmaster), Betty Duffield (guard), Patty Clark (passenger) and small children. Lullaby Land and Tramps Ballets, Hawaiian Scene: Li,’ Mcllvride (soloist) ; chorus led by Betty Royal. ' Pipes of Pan Ballet: Hilda Doidge and twenty-four pipers. Fireflies: P. Clark and V. Crosby. Chinese Scena: Mandarin, Mr Wells; Chief, Mr McCarthy; Tribal Chief, Mr Mcllvride. In - Capable Hands. The promoters were extremely fortunate in the .selection of stall-holders, whose collective wares made an extremely valuable adjunct to the financial gain of the bazaar. The assistants worked tirelessly, and the first night closed with a satisfactory and substantial balance. Miss A. Corbett, as secretary, controlled the organisation in her usual capable and efficient manner, and much of the success that attended the opening night is due to her thorough efficiency ,in this respect. The stall-holders were as follows: Fancy: Misses Twohill (2), and N. Coaltley. Sweets: Mesdames Bell and Higgins and Miss Molloy. Plain Sewing: Mesdames Boyle, Bateman and Kilgour. Produce: Miss Molloy and Mr Connolly. / Tea-Rooms: Mesdames Gillard and Donnelly. Prize-Winners. The winners of the various art unions last night were: No. 1, Sarah Willets (61); 2, J. Campbell (9); 3, Mrs Aims (79); 4, Miss G. Molloy (35); 6, A. Fisher (12); 7, R. E. Bradley (213); 8, Mrs Snelgar (198); 9-, Mrs P. T. Smith; 10, Mrs Johnston (45); 11, Mrs Kedzlie (53). The bazaar will be repeated this evening, when another attractive programme will be presented.