A GAY SPECTACLE.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18778, 28 October 1932, Page 3

A GAY SPECTACLE.

THE “PAGEANT OF YOUTH.” Y.M.C.A. GYMNASIUM DISPLAY. SUCCESS OF ANNUAL FUNCTION. To most of the people who watohed the Hamilton Y.M.C.A’s. annual display " Pageant of Youth ” last night this modern gymnastic display probably meant something more than an evening’s entertainment. It certainly set before the youngsters and young men and women an ideal of fitness—in mind, body, and spirit—which they could not fail to recognise and to those past youth It must have brought back days when they too could have had, or did have, bodies tuned to such subtle elasticity as those of the performers. The previous displays of the Y.M.C.A. have, been in the Theatre Royal but last night’s pageant was held in just the right atmosphere, the gymnasium at the Y.M.C.A. With all the. facilities attached to the gymnasium available, the display was undoubtedly the best given by the Hamilto Y.M.C.A. The seating accommodation is also worthy of special mention. Special arrangements had been made and the very large crowd who witnessed the performances were all comfortably seated where they could see the whole show. There was a varied assortment of exercises and gymnastics all correctly executed with a grace, vim and synchronisation, which speaks volumes as to the capabilities of the physical director, Mr L. Cato.

An Interesting Programme. Mr Cato certainly had the, right material to work with. It would be difficult to find a better type of New Zealand youth than, that exemplified ’by the 50 to 60 men and women, boys and girls who took part in the pageant. The performance opened with a grand maroh of all performers and then physical culture exercises by the junior girls, seniors, Saturday girls and Saturday boys were items that were very much appreciated. The next item, a military danoe, in costumes by the girls, taught by Miss Mavis Laurenson, was very well received and then the members of the Junior branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers' Union showed the benefit they derived from the classes by many clever rythmic exeroises. Drill, swinging the clubs and various other items added to the interest in the programme and gymnastio stunts by the senior men thrilled the whole crowd. Many hairraising performances on the single horizontal bar, double horizontal bars, the Roman rings and the vaulting horse were thoroughly enjoyed by the crowd who showed their appreciation of the high standard of the displays by many bursts of applause. Tap dancing by Miss Daphne Gould and Miss L. Edmonds was anoher feature of the excellent programme.’ Clever Clowning. After the interval the “ Overture ” was played by one of the -Saturday boys, Sydney Sedgewick, aged 10 years, and the clever young pianist made a great hit with the crowd. The many varied “ human pyramids” added to the spectacular p'art of the programme. The men and women formed several excellent pyramids but, perhaps, the best of them all were the combined ones. No mention of the display would be complete without special mention of the clowns (Phil. Dixon and his satellite). They kept the crowd in a wonderful humour and enlivened all the proceedings with their many foolish antics. Besides their “ foolery.” both were very clever gymnastic stunters and they thrilled the crowd with their many turns. They added lustre to a really brilliant show.

The pageant will be repeated In the Y.M.C.A. Gymnasium on Saturday night and lovers of good, clean, healthy sport should not miss the opportunity of witnessing one of the best gymnastic displays yet seen In Hamilton.