MUSICAL PLANNED

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 3

MUSICAL PLANNED

“South Pacific? 9 In March “South Pacific." the musical show which marked the first union of the singer. Mary Martin, and the team cf Richard Rodgers and the late Oscar Kammerstein II in 1949. has been chosen for production by the Christchurch Operatic Society in ! March next year. Chorus auditions for 29 j applicants on a waiting list; W'-re held last evening by | Mr Keith Newson, who has ■ again been appointed music®l director. “South Pacific " wll be , presented at the Theat-e I Royal from March 7 to 21.'

produced bv Alan de Mai-1 manche. who recently re-. turned from Canada and th» United States Mr de Mai-1 manche’s first musical for the society was Rodgers andHammeretein’s “Oklahoma", in 1958. followed by "Show; Boat” and "Zip Goes a Million!" He has also produced "Zip Goes a Million!". “Belle of New York." “Ric ‘ Rita." and "The Vagabond; :K : .ng" for other ope-atic so-1 cieties in New Zealand. A J. C. Williamson company first presented “South Pacific" in New Zealand in 1954. with the American star. Mary la Roche as Ensign Nellie Forbush, the Swedish bass. Richard Collett, as Emile le Becque. and the famous Negro 'ontralto, the late Virignia Paris. as “Bloody Mary.” Since Australian and New Zealand amateur | rights for “South Pa-1 I oific" were released in 1960 it has set new records' -for advance bookings whereever it ha-s been presented, i In Dunedin last July a week’s I season was completely booked out 10 days before the opening performance