Fire Not Stopping Opera

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31333, 1 April 1967, Page 1

Fire Not Stopping Opera

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Mar. 31. In spite of the total loss of all its theatrical equipment and other irreplaceable material vital to its productions, the New Zealand Opera Company is determined that the “show will go on.”

A fire, which swept through the company’s theatrical store in mid-town Wellington early this morning completely destroyed more than 10,000 individual costumes, all properties and wiped out the entire stage

lighting equipment along with its switch boards. After an emergency meeting of the board of 'directors today the chairman, Mr J. L. Hartstonge, said his board was determined to do its utmost, and would leave no itone unturned, in efforts to honour its commitments for the coming season. Provided it was practically possible, said Mr Hartstonge, the company would go ahead with its plans to open the 1967 tour with a performance of Donizetti’s “L’Elisir D’Amore" ’ in Christchurch on April 29, ! and follow this with the main ' season tour which also in- . dudes the opera “Cosi Fan . Tutti” by Mozart News of the company’s losses spread quickly and

offers of help began pouring in almost immediately. The Australian ballet company, at present touring New Zealand, offered to lend its lighting equipment to the. New Zealand company.

This also applies to the costumes. A spokesman for the company said this morning that although there were some skilled people able to re-make the costumes, it would be a physical impossibility for them to work the length of time that would be needed, for all costumes to be replaced. The fire, which gutted the two-storey building belonging to Roberts Printing Company, in Wakefield street, Wellington, destroyed the opera company's equipment only weeks' before the company moved to|

: a new home in a theatre rei centiy acquired for it, in the ; Wellington suburb of Karori. Roberts Printing Company, : Ltd., which occupied 4500 sq. ft. of the ground floor, had all its machinery heavily damaged and lost all paper stock i in the building. Other firms have offered . use of premises and plant ' and it is expected the comi pany will be back in produci tion early next week. Tasman Rental Cars, Ltd., I which leased part of the ground floor as garage apace, i lost 15 recent model vena and ; cars. Wellington's biggest lira in ' some years, the blaze was • battled by 50 firemen for more '•.han 90 minutes before it was II under control.