"LES CLOCHES DE CORNEVILLE"

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21147, 24 April 1934, Page 6

"LES CLOCHES DE CORNEVILLE"

OPERATIC SOCIETY'S NEW; COMEDY !

VISIT TO A REHEARSAL

Rehearsing a musical comedy is a complicated business. We are told that the various scenes of films are photographed in any order which happens to suit the director and then pieced together in sequence, and the same seems to be true of musical comedy rehearsals. At least, it is certainly true of "Les Cloches de Corneville," which is at present being rehearsed at the old Art Gallery by members of the Christchurch Amateur Operatic Society. Last evening, when a reporter of "The Press" attended a rehearsal of the third act, everything seemed to be in pieces—a chorus here, a bit of comedy "business" there, now a solo by one of the principals, and now some instructions to the "ladies and gentlemen of the chorus." That was how it looked, of course, to the outsider, but Major F. H. Lampen, the producer, and Mr Alfred Bunz, the musical director, and chorus and principals alike, had the advantage of knowing exactly what they were doing. "Tap!" would go Mr Bunz's baton, "Clap!" Major Lampen's hands, the piano would play a few bars and there would be a chorus in full swing—or a duct or a solo, as the case might be. After a while the reporter, helped by some knowledge of the story, began to find his way about, to follow the pleasant music by Robert Planquette with pleasure, and to enjoy the comedy scenes between Mr Wyn Cowlishaw and Mr Tommy Patterson, while every now and then, as a delightful variation, Miss Kathleen Chappie or Miss Annas Gale or Mr Clive Hindle or Mr James Shaw would sing a number or two. It soon became clear that what at first had seemed to be rarely disconnected scraps of music and dialogue and chorus were very important parts of a very amusing and tuneful scene. "Les Cinches de Corneville" is no simple trifle to be optimistically produced by any more or less incompetent body of amateurs. Its good music and well-constructed "book" are too good to be spoilt by bungling. The Operatic Society has had it under consideration for several years, but only this year has the committee felt itself in possession of a strong enough body of members, both chorus and principals, to undertake its production. From what was seen of it in rehearsal last evening, however, it seems probable that the committee will prove to have been fully justified in selecting it at last. From the bits and pieces of the rehearsal it soon became clear that the society has a considerable body of talent at its command, talent which has been wisely distributed in this excellent comedy. The old story of the missing heiress who is discovered in the finale has been given a new twist in the libretto, with the result that the story, often the weak point in musical comedy, contains plenty of excitement and interest. The music is, of course, well known to many, and its handling by the excellent chorus which has been chosen by the society, as well as bv the principals, should renew its popularity. The comedy is being produced on a really satisfactory scale. Besides such popular members of the society who have appeared in its earlier productions as Miss Chappie, Mr Hindle, and Mr Cowlishaw. there are several new voices in the leading roles, including Miss Annas Gale. Mr James Shaw. Mr Tommy Patterson, and Mr Carl Morris, all of whom are known in musical circles in Christchurch. The chorus numbers 60, and a ballet of 20 has been trained by Miss Bessie Macdonald. "Les Cloches de Corneville" will open at the St. James' Theatre at a matinee on Saturday afternoon, and will be played for a week, with another matinee on the final dav.