An Active Choral Society

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31320, 16 March 1967, Page 24

An Active Choral Society

Methven is not lacking in social and community activity. Someone said recently that there were no fewer than 60 distinct organisations in the township.

One of those that has made an impact on the district and even further afield is the Methven Choral Society (Inc.). People from outside the district have been impressed with the quality of the society’s performances and the excellence of their presentation.

One of the outstanding things about the society is the amount of ability and talent that there is in a district like Methven. This year the society, which has a membership of about 70 and is about 24 years old, is putting on “Carousel” in the Mount Hutt memorial hall on the last three evenings of June and on July 1. Something like 1500 to 2000 people see such performances and come from as far away as

Christchurch. The society’s activities have to fit in with the farming programme in the district. Thus work for its performances cannot start until harvest is over and everything must be over by the time that lambing comes along. The musical director of the society, Mr C. W. Reid, who is also headmaster of the Methven District High School, said last week-end that the auditionings for this year’s performance had been the best that he had had in the six years he had held the position. There were more young people coming forward than had previously been the case. Mr Reid incidentally worked for a bachelor of music degree at Otago University, has participated in the production of several works with the National Orchestra, was for seven years a member of the Christchurch Harmonic Society and has been associated with a number of church and university musical groups and also with primary school music festivals. About 50 persons will be involved in this year’s performance. At the home of Mr and Mrs G. Goldsbrough last week-end, Mr Goldsbrough, who is stage manager for

“Corousel,” and Mr J. Conolly, who comes from Cambridge in England and is scene designer, were working on the design of the nine scene changes that will be involved in “Carousel”—the biggest number of scene changes that they have yet attempted. For the purpose they were using a scale model of the stage in the Mount Hutt hall. Producer, this year. Is Hazel Mounsey, of Lauriston, and wardrobe mistress, Jeanne McMillan. Diana Goldsbrough has also frequently produced for the society. The holder of an arts degree, Mrs Goldsbrough studied at the Webber Douglas School of Opera and Dramatic Art in London and when she returned to New Zealand she worked in radio and played for theatre groups in Wellington and Christchurch before coming to Methven. Cherry Taylor, who is a pianist for the

Stone was elected president of the association for 195455, and later he was created an honorary life member. He passed on in January of this year.” The president of the association, Mr S. Callaghan, said last week-end that the appropriate commemoration of Mr Stone’s service to the association was now under consideration. He had suggested this from the chair and it had been left to members to come forward with ideas. rooms.

society, was a pianist with the New Zealand Opera Company in its early days. Last year the society staged “Amahl and the Night Visitors” and “Gorgeous,” a very well received show with a local flavour written by Elsa Richards, of Hororata, who has now gone to live in Whangarei. To play the part of Amahl, the society needed a boy soprano and were fortunate to secure Christopher Lackner, who had been leading soloist in the Christchurch Cathedral and who was at the time attending Ashburton College. He was considered to be one of the leading boy sopranos in the country. Among many who at present and in the past have given of their talents in the interests of the society is Graeme Mangin. His special forte is the lighting, and in this respect the Methven society’s performances rate highly. His mother before him was a fine singer and foundation member of the society. President of the society at present is Mr R. Ander-

son, who is a fat lamb buyer, and secretary of the society is Mrs Marjorie Collins. There was a wonderful spirit about the society, said Mr Reid. The object of the exercise was the enjoyment that the members themselves got out of it and the enjoyment that the people of the district who saw their performances got out of it. Running parallel with the Choral Society in the drama field is The Methven Players, who also give regular performances.