“THE HEADMISTRESS.”

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18347, 5 June 1931, Page 3

“THE HEADMISTRESS.”

HIGH SCHOOL FARCE. SUCCESSFUL OPENING NIGHT. LARGE AUDIENCE ENTHUSIASTIC. There Is s&mething about school theatricals which has an appea■ an( j fascination apart from P rofes h s *°™ entertainments. The little unrehearsed incidents, and natural acting of th school characters, never fail to be appreciated, and that is why the large audience which witnessed the open performance of the Hamilton H g School boys’ musical extravaganza, “The Headmistress,” last night, went home well pleased with the entertainment. The annual concerts of the Hamilton High School are always eagerly looked forward to, and judging by the large gathering In jlhe school assembly hall last night this year’s production will eclipse all previous performances. Every seat was taken when -the curtain rose for the opening items, beautiful ballets presented by the girls of the school, and danced to the incomparable Faust ballet music. The girls were seen in live ballets, while Alison McNicol danced a graceful solo, “Moonsprite, and Beris Boyes performed a difficult skipping dance. In the finale, “Return -to Fairyland” in which the combined ballets appeared, Alison MoNicol was the soloist, in a stately sparf dance. The dancers in the various ballets were: “Fairy Revels B. Boyes, M. Norrish, Z. Holmes, D. Sandford, M. Mandeno, N. Woodward; “Elfin Frolics," B. Armstrong, R. McCracken, E. Brownlie, L. Potts, E. Burns, E. Saxton, E. Davison, M. Shaw; “Bouquet of Roses,” E. Bell, E. Jebson, |P- Code, J. Palmer, E. Coles, D. Waddell, V. Frericlcs, M. Watts; "Nymphs at Play,” N. Brown, L. Bryant, R. Speight. The work of the girls was a feature of the entertainment. Amusing situations, bright, witty dialogue, and songs and dancing in true -comic opera tradition characterised the boys’ effort, “The Headmistress." From beginning to end this farce had the audience in fits of laughter, and it ■is undoubtedly one of the best productions that the 'boys of the school have yet staged. The producer, Mr E. 11. Apthorp, could not have done better in his choice of principals, while the chorus and the ballet of fairies did much to make the play a success. The scene is laid In the salon of a public school for boys, in the year 1950. This particular school is managed by a headmistress, who has her own ideas as to how the establishment should be run, and, among other things, has a syllabus more suited for girls than for boys. Naturally, the boys are discontented and disgusted, and, in the first act, the curtain rises on a class of some twenty youths busily knitting, and at the same time grumbling among themselves. The headmistress enters, and, after speaking to the boys, sings her song, “Long Years Ago,” in which she recalls her youthful attractions, and describes the changes that have taken place since her younger days. As it is St. Vinolia’s Day the boys are permitted to choose their own lessons, and decide upon “Practical Baby Bathing,” but in the middle of the lesson Sergeant Buggins enters, and announces General Sir Bluddon Thunder, an old boy of the school. He is met by the headmistress, who, much to his disgust, puts the boys through a series' of very unmilitary exercises for his benefit. They perform screamingly funny Grecian and Egyptian dances. Later the school prefects, Cuthbert, Clarence, and Claude, conspire with the General to “rid the school of this ridiculous person." In the second act Sergeant Buggins is discovered in shirtsleeves engaged in cleaning the dining room. He sings “The Waste Paper Basket," and performs a little tap dance before ft. chorus of waiters appear, followed by the chef, who is heard in a solo, “Provided by the College.” It has been arranged that the prefects disguise themselves as Inspectors, and visit the school, and in due oourse they arrive, much to the dismay of the headmistress, who is unprepared for them, as they wish to examine the school Immediately In all’ subjects of the syllabus. However, she overcomes the difficulty by combining all subjects in the “Musical Pageant of the Fairies of Education,” in which songs are sung by tho various fairies. The inspection over, the headmistress Is questioned about her past life, and her appointment. She tells a sad story of how she “lost" her husband when he went to the War Office one morning twenty-five years before, and never returned. The inspectors read regulations stating that if a woman be appointed as “headmaster” and she Is married, her husband must reside with her, and' furthermore, in such case, the'lady shall govern only the teaching of subjects. It is also stipulated that no woman living apart from her husband shall be in charge of any school. Thus the headmistress’ appointment must be pronounced “null and void.” But it is sensationally discovered that General Sir Bluddon Thunder is her long lost husband, and the story comes to a happy conclusion with the whole company in a grand flnale. As the headmistress W. Macky gave an excellent interpretation of a difficult part, and sang several solos very creditably- With a natural ability for humour lie was ideally suited for the part. The. difficult part of General Sir Bluddon Thunder was capably portrayed by F. A. Gresham, whose singing, particularly in a duet with Sergeant Buggins, was excellent. The outstanding performance was that of L. Whitlock, as Sergeant Buggins. He had several solos to sing, and was also heard in a number of duets. Possessing a fine singing and speaking voice, lie acted his part with marked ability, and provided •much of the humour of the story. The minor parts were excellently portrayed toy G. tie Montallc (Cuthbert, the senior prefect), 11. Holloway (Clarence, school captain), 11. T. Olive (Claude, tlie bad boy), 11. Sandford (Ermyntrude, dhc school nurse) and H. Gilbert (Hie school chef). Excellent work was done by the chorus, consisting of the following boys: J. G. Brown, O. Burn, D. W. G. Bray, G. R. Bullock, C. D. Cook, C. de Montalk, J. Davenport, E. Gillies, 11. 11. Gilbert, L. Green, J. G. Ilodder, 11. Holloway, J. Ilaycraft, W. G. Judd, J. C. Jacka, B. T. B. Lutman, L. McKenzie, E. D. 13. Missen, H. T. G. Olive, H. A. Parsons, P. V. Priest, C. K. Robinson, K. R. Simcock, E. C. Hollo, I. A. Woodward, R. Wallis, R. R. Zellman. A feature of the production was the “Musical Pageant of the Fairies of Education," in which the following “fairies” appeared: G. W. P. Torpy, 1 (Continued in next column.).

P. V. Chitty, P. Rabonc, D- L. M. Carey, L. T. K. Bogue, W. F. Johnston, II J. Banks, W. McKenzie, JPage, J. McCa'be. No 'mention of 'the entertainment would bo complete without reference to the work of Mr E. H. Apthorp, the producer, 'Miss Iv. 'Gordon, who arranged 'the dances in both boys’ and girls’ programmes, Miss A. C. Tizard, who designed all the dresses, and Mr F. E- Mason, who was responsible for the artistic lighting effects. An orchestra of ten instruments lent valuable assistance in providing the music. The Instrumentalists were: Violin, Miss I. Leak; ’cello, Mr T. Vautier; double bass, Mr Savage; piano, Mr E. 11. Apthorp; flute, Mr E. Dyason; clarinet, Mr 11. Hodginson; cornet, Mr B. Smith; trombone, Mr J. E. Sorenson; drums, etc., B. Larney, and J. Whitehead. The programme will be presented again to-night and to-morrow night in the school hall, and an Invitation is extended to the public to be present. The total proceeds are to be devoted to the erection of dressing sheds for the recently erected school baths.