"GOING UP."

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19610, 4 May 1929, Page 16

"GOING UP."

A FAILURE FINANCIALLY. LOSS OF £SO FOR SEASON. At the conclusion of the performance of "Going Up," which was produced by the Christchurch Amateur Operatic Society at the Theatre Royal for the Inst ' time last evening. Mr G. M. Hall, a ricepresident of the Society, addressed the t audience and thanked them for their support, at the same time pointing out that the season had been a disappointing j one. finaneiallv, for the Society. I Mr Hall snid that he took the opporf tunity of thanking those citizens of | Christchurch "who had patronised the [■production during the past week. People ! had no idea what it took to produce ! such an opera. It entailed a tremen- ' dous amount of v.-ork. The committee ! obtained a great deal of pleasure from the work, but they would he unable to carry on without the necessary public support. The chorus and principals had carried out their parts excellently, and would not have disgraced a professional stage. The Society had produced nine or ten operas, and he could say, without fear of contradiction, that "Going Up'' was the most successful. The orchestra had been excellent, and the Society was greatly indebted to Mrs G. L. Donaldson as pianist, and also to Mr Donaldson. Tho had done a tremendous amount of work. "I nm very sorry to say that, not on account of the weather nor the production, we were unable to make it a financial success,'' said Mr Hall. "There must he something wrong with the citizens of Christchurch. Personally, I do not think we will be able to try another. I thank the chorus and the principals for an excellent production, and also Mrs J. Hulme for her excellent work as producer."

At the final curtain each of the lady principals and the chorU9 received a bouquet, and the gaiety of flowers on the stage was added to by the multicoloured streamers which were thrown on to the stage from the audience. Several people from the audience called for the chorus, "Going Up," to be given, and this the performers did, the popular refrain receiving a further round of enthusiastic applause. Mr Donaldson stated after the performance that it was expected that the loss to tho Society for the season would be in the vicinity of £SO. Nothing definite could yet be ascertained, however, and the amount of the loss would depend upon the sum which could be realised for the sale of the scenery and costumes. Tt had been hoped tha't the show would have drawn a full house on the final night, resulting in the receipt of £2OO, but only £l3O was taken for the evening.