Maori Stars Ready For Opera Tour

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30855, 14 September 1965, Page 12

Maori Stars Ready For Opera Tour

•‘The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND, Sept. 13

Almost all the Maori members of the cast of the New Zealand Opera Company production of “Porgy and Bess” have said they will be available for its five-month tour of Australia starting in November.

Mr Ulric Williams, the general manager, said: “We are still waiting for about six replies, but so far there are only one or two who cannot go, usually for domestic reasons.” One of them is Hannah Tatana, who plays the part of Maria. She is expecting a baby. Another member of the cast who is due to become a mother later this month, Isabel Cowan, hopes to be able to make the tour, in her role as Clara.

Inia Te Wiata will again star as Porgy and an American singer will probably be chosen for the part of Bess—played by Martha Flowers for the New Zealand tour.

One American who is likely to return to the show is

Negro Actors

Dolores Ivory, who was Serena, and afterwards married her stage “husband,” Peter Keiha.

A few more American Negroes may be brought into the cast and it is possible that some roles may be shared to cover the eight performances a week which will be given in Australia, two more than in New Zealand.

Ella Gerber is to return from the United States to produce the show and it is hoped that Dobbs Franks will be retained as musical director. The opera will be the first joint presentation by the New Zealand Opera Company and the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust.

Mr John Young, a trust administrator, is going to Wellington to discuss details of the tour which will open in Brisbane on November 7 and included Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.

The production will be part of the Adelaide Festival in March.