CONVENT SCHOOL, GISBORNE

New Zealand Tablet, 2 January 1913, Page 49

CONVENT SCHOOL, GISBORNE

Gaiety was the prevailing note sounded at the Opera ■House, Gisborne, on the occasion of the annual concert by the pupils of the Catholic school (says a local paper). On every side were to be seen the smiling, happy faces of boys and girls, ranging from tiny dots of five up to lads and lasses of fifteen. The concert was a particularly bright one from beginning to end. After the orchestra had put everyone in a good humor by a lively overture, a couple of dozen little sailor lasses came tripping on to the stage, dancing a merry hornpipe, and, keeping time nicely, sweetly told the audience that ‘ Our Jack's come home to-day.’ Then the sailor’s hornpipe again, and excellently danced, too. A storm of applause followed the pretty scene, and the sailor girls had to reappear. Enchanting, indeed, was the succeeding number, a taking little action song, ‘ Pinafores,’ sung by 24 little maidens, whose fresh young voices kept perfect time. , Tumultuous applause and another recall. Enter ‘ The drummer boys,’ 24 strong, each resplendent in scarlet uniform, and each beating a tattoo on a kettledrum. The house simply rose at them, a valiant-looking warrior about two feet high particularly taking the public eye. Well-deserved applause followed and continued until the sound of the drum announced the return of the well-drilled force, who, with military precision executed an intricate evolution and were gone. The action song, ‘Butterflies,’ by the senior girl pupils, was another very pretty scene. The dainty maidens were attired to represent almost every species of butterfly, and an entrancing picture they made as the limelight played upon them as they danced and sang. The first part of the programme concluded with a bright performance of a little cantata, ‘ The gipsies' holiday,’ which contained some charming choruses. The part of the queen was pleasingly taken by Miss M. Hale, who sang the solos allotted to the part most acceptably. The second part was devoted to a dramatic version of ‘ Cinderella,’ which was very well acted indeed. The manner in which the youthful performers went through their parts proved that much time had been devoted to rehearsals, and that an experienced stage-manager had been in charge. The cast of characters was as follows;Baron Tumbledowndreary, Miss McLoughlin; Baroness Tumbledowndready, Miss Coyne; Prince Trulove, Miss Dunlop; Fleur de Lis, Miss L. Scott; Nimblewitz, Miss Williams; Clotilde and Angeline (daughters of Baroness), Misses R. Scott and F. Solvander; Fairy Roseleaf, Miss C. Dunlop; Fairy Carnation, Miss E. Barry; Fairy Daisy, Miss N. Neenan; Fairy Bluebell, Miss M. Neill; Fairy Violet, Miss K. Gleeson; Fairy Cinderella (step-daughter of Baroness), Miss Strangman; Fairy Alberta (valet of Baron), Miss T. Williams. As Cinderella, Miss Strangman had a heavy part to perform, but came through the ordeal with colors flying, her singing of ‘ O were I a lady so lovely and fair’ being a particularly pleasing effort. Miss Dunlop made a charming Prince Truelove, speaking her lines naturally and distinctly, while her acting was good. The little play was capitally staged and mounted, the court scene, in particular, being an exceptionally attractive one. Very hearty applause followed, the performance, and was well deserved, as seldom had such an excel-lently-trained band of children appeared before a Gisborne audience. The whole entertainment reflected the highest credit on the Sisters of Mercy, the teachers of the Convent school. A word of praise is due to the orchestra, which supplied the accompaniments and incidental music most artistically

ST. DOMINIC’S CONVENT. At the annual breaking-up ceremony of St. Dominic’s Convent, the following prizes were distributed : Standard VII. M. McLoughlin, music, bookkeeping, and Christian doctrine (gold medal, presented by Mr. D. J. Barry); I. Shann, French, algebra, and printing (medal, presented by Mr. IT, J. Grieve)'. Standard Vl. Scott, highest marks for recitation and arithmetic (trophy, presented by Mr. Sheri-

dan); D. Mar-tin, drawing and general proficiency • F* Williams, spelling and writing. - \ ; . Standard V.—M. Dunlop, dressmaking and fancy work; C. Dunlop, most popular girl (voted for) Mr. Maurice s gold medal; L. Scott, reading and recitation; /' . .f y ’>T ge^ ral P roficier icy; Z. Sheridan, amiability (voted); N. White, music and spelling; D. Edwards arithmetic. - ’ t Standard IV.-E. Hall, arithmetic and writing; L. White, theory of music and history; N. Brosnahan (Mr. J. Martin s medal), spelling and geography. Standard 111. N. Neenan, arithmetic; K. Gleeson reading and recitation; L. Malone, spelling M Neill, recitation and history; K. Edwards, arithmetic and general proficiency; M. Marsden, music and singmg. 5 Standard 11. Caesar, writing and drawing; J. Brosnahan, spelling and arithmetic; E. Sheridan, Christian doctrine. Standard I. S. Hinton, reading and spelling. Prep. Ill— Hackett, catechism and reading; reading^ 011 ’ tab 68 Writin^; D - Jeune > spelling and