LANSDOWNE SCHOOL CONCERT.

Wairarapa Age, 9 December 1921, Page 5

LANSDOWNE SCHOOL CONCERT.

Last evening, at the' Masterton Opera House, an audience that literally packed every available standing and sitting space greeted the pupils of the Lansdowne school, who repeated the operetta “Sisters Three.” The slight defects inseparable from a first performance had been overcome, and the operetta was carried through with uncommon accuracy and spontaneity—the leading appeared to be obsessed with the idea that their mission was to amuse, and in striving for that desirable end they lost their sense of individuality and so attained success.

As the performance marched to its triumphant close the onlookers became impressed with the facts that amongst the children were several with unusual gifts of mimicry and characterisation, and that a great deal of very painstaking work had been done by those who had trained and drilled and dressed the various characters. The dressing, indeed, was a spectacular feature, and for the lady members of the school staff were responsible. Miss O’Donovan, Mrs Francis, and Mrs Hosken, assisted by other capable ladies, “made up” the girls, and Messrs Hall, Jago, Ross, and Robertson attended similarly to the boys. As on the previous evening, the orchestra proved a most attractive portion of a very fine performance. Mr R.. C. Drummond (headmaster of the Lansdowne School) was director of the revels, and their remarkable success reflects as much on his capabilities as upon the cleverness of the children. The comedy parts were acted most capably, and if the humour is sometimes of the chestnut variety, it is at least clean. -To-night the operetta will be staged for the last time.