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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 11, No. 5. April 28th, 1948

Student Pranks from 1903 to 1948

Student Pranks from 1903 to 1948

Many Freshers have probably heard the magic word "Extrav" whispered by sundry people throughout the College. To the Uninitiated it refers to the Extravaganza performed annually at the Opera House as part of the ceremonies of Capping Week, but to the initiated, well—this is not the place for personal remembrances of that kind.

However, it may be interesting to glance back over the years, so, with our Time machine in reverse, off we go—

Back in 1903 . . . The days of the "New Look" . . . we find a slim issue marked sedately "Students Carnival," the precursor of Cappicades yet unborn. In this we read that Diploma Day is Wednesday, 24th June, and a Carnival is to be held in the Sydney Street Schoolroom at which the whole thirteen graduates will be capped! On the front cover we are also informed that New Laid Eggs may be obtained from the Fresh Food and Ice Company, and that Tonkin's Linseed Emulsion is useful for your cough. (Sold Everywhere.)

Peeping inside, we find the programme from which a few selections would not go amiss:—

Part I.

The Victoria College Song No. 1. and Maori Haka.

Pianoforte Solo, Caprice Espagnol. Mr. Frauhauf.

Solo, Bedouin Love Song, Mr. H. [unclear: P.] Richmond.

Plantation Song. De Lecture ([unclear: apprently] the singer was too bashful [unclear: to] give his name).

Now for Part 2, the beginning of Extrav. This appears to me to be [unclear: forth] reproducing in full.

Farce "My Turn Next"

Characters:
Taxicum Twitters (a village apothecary) R. M. Watson
Tim Bolus (his professional assistant) O. N. Gillespie
Tom Trapp (a commercial traveller A. S. Henderson
[unclear: Farmer] Wheatear (from Blenheim) J. L. Stout
[unclear: Lydia] (Twitters' wife) Miss F. G. Roberts
[unclear: ecily] (her sister) Miss H. M. Batham
[unclear: eggy] (Twitters' Domestic) Miss N. Heath

Scene: A country chemist's shop parlour.

God Save the King

[unclear: The] Fresh Food and Ice Company [unclear: h] us again on this page, this [unclear: extolling] the virtues of their [unclear: e] Table Poultry! Happy days! [unclear: le] paying good money to the [unclear: ing] Book Committee to advertise [unclear: for] sale!

[unclear: n] the farce disappears from the [unclear: the] until 1906, when it again makes [unclear: appearance] as a two night stand. [unclear: we] are also, incidentaly, thirty-[unclear: one] graduates! On Part Two, of the [unclear: name] is "Munchums." or the [unclear: gin] of Genus," written by Messrs. [unclear: de] la Mare, S. S. McKenzie and [unclear: Wichelbaum]. Unfortunately, no [unclear: one] of this noble script has yet been and. In Tableau 3, the Historic is an item worth noticing:

Duet:
Commissioner Miss Daisy Isaacs B. J. Jacobs

[unclear: d] [unclear: words] have been preserved for [unclear: properity], so herewith a selection:

Commissioner:

[unclear: thee], hoary sailor, sitting on the [unclear: strand].

"Think of them in bathing dresses . . ."

"Think of them in bathing dresses . . ."

(Hey, but he's salty, bellow, bellow baily!)
Were you of the party that first found this land?
(Hey, billow, baily oh!)

Sailor:
Split my bowsprit, yes mum. I was of that crew!
(Hey but I'm salty, billow, billow baily!)
Me and Cook was pals, mum, just as thick as glue;
(Hey billow, baily oh!)
You should see the gals, mum, smiling at us pals, mum,
(Hey billow, baily, oh!)
Etc., Etc.

(Apparently the Fresh Food and Ice Co. have found other methods of bringing their goods before the public as Myrtle Grove Cigarettes appear to have taken their place on the front cover.)

In travelling on to 1911, it appears that the same names are in the programme year after year, as now. In 1911 the show is now full length. Part 1 of the programme having died a well deserved death. In "Reform" or "The Metamorphosis of the Evoluters" we note:
Herlock Sholmes A. E. Caddick
Queen Elizabeth E. M. Litchfield
Harem Skirt Girl L. P. Leary
Thomas de la Huntalre P. B. Broad

In 1911 another change has taken place. The Extravaganza (yes, it really was called an Extrav that year) has moved to the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall (Heaven help the stage manager). Also the odd types which haunt the back-stage are appearing—the properties manager and the stage manager.

Now, strangely enough, in 1912. Part 1 of the early programmes is resurrected and again we are entertained with violin solos, glees and the rest. The main show was "Wumpty Dumpty" with a distinguished cast featuring Messrs. Caddick, Hall-Jones and Sievwright.

"The Modern Era"

By 1914, the persistent Part 1 has been interred forever, and the Capping Book appears with its first art cover, a two-colour cover in fact. Extravaganza seems to be an established word for capping shows.

At the end of World War I, the formalized cover returns. A full-length show is presented in the Town Hall, "Der Tag" or "The Path of Progress," with a distinguished cast including the following:
Sgt.-Major Cheetah P. Martin Smith
Lord Liverpool A. J. Mazengarb
Japhetrow Wilson H. Miller

Now we come to the modern era. 1920 marked the first show held in the Opera House, with all the present accessories, orchestra, props, stage manager, business manager and the rest. This was called "The Dogs." featuring such well-known players as P. Martin-Smith. S. A. Wiren, and many others. This auspicious move was celebrated by another return to the art cover in colour.

Now, on to the thirties. "GG" in 1929. "Willum the Conk" in 1930. Of the early examples of the "modern" type of script, Redmond Phillips deserves mention. He wrote some excellent shows such as "Coax and Hoax" (1932) "Murder in the Common Room" (1934) and probably his best "Medea and Soda" (1932). The latter contains the song "Karitane Blues" which is still sometimes heard in Extrav, dressing rooms after the show. The Phillips shows were ably presented by people such as Dorothea Tossman, H. C. Middlebrook, A. H. Scotney and the late Kingi Tahiwi.

The late nineteen thirties produced another set of brilliant and prolific script writers—the Seven Pillars of Wisdom and Ron Meek. Of the Pillars' efforts the best are probably "Hell's Bells" 1936. "The Book of Bob" 1937 and "Adam in Wonderland" 1939, starring "The Voice." Mr. W. S. Austin.

Then come John Carrad's delightful variety shows with their inconsequential nonsense and their catchy songs. "Daze Bay Nights." "Port Nick Iniquity" and "The Dinkum Oil."

Last, but by no means least, the great series of Ron Meek shows commencing with "Brave New Zealand" in 1936, and reaching its highlight with "Peter in Blunderland" 1945 when the whole cast travelled to Palmerston for a two-night stand—but what nights they were!

Other outstanding shows were "Olympian Nights" 1938 and "Centennial Scandals" 1940. Script writters of the calibre of Ron Meek are difficult to find, but don't let this deter you from attempting a script. And always participate in this, the greatest social event of the College year.