‘Oklahoma’ In Timaru

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31768, 27 August 1968, Page 8

‘Oklahoma’ In Timaru

The operatic section’ J of the South Canter- j bury Drama League , will mark its tenth t year in October with its second production < of the Rodgers and ’ Kammerstein musical, . “Oklahoma!” 1 “Oklahoma,” to be pre- 1 sented at the Theatre Royal from October 30 to Novem- i ber 3, was the section’s first ■ production in Timaru, and the ' league’s first departure from its traditional field of I “straight” drama. The musical director is i Frank Smith, who directed : the first staging of i “Oklahoma” 10 years ago. Mr ' Smith conducted the Timaru \ Municipal Band for many years, taught the Waimataitai School's outstanding combination, and still plays a i leading part in musical promotion in Timaru—the city’s i junior band, consisting of promising boys from the

bands of Waimataitai School, Timaru College, and Timaru Boys’ High School, has been re-established under his control. The producer, S. Toneycliffe, has been associated with several productions for the operatic section which were money-spinners from the time they “hit the boards” until the final curtain. Full rehearsals for the 60strong cast began on August 13 with the first of 37 threehour rehearsals. The principal cast is as follows: Ado Annie (Pat Bartholomew), Aunt Eller (Margaret McEwen), laurey (Florice Gordon), Curley (Philip McCabe), Jud Fry (Gerry Harris), Andrew Carnes (Alex Grieve), All Hakim (Brian Davies), Will Parker (Keith Begg), Gertie Cummings (Jannette Cheyne). The section’s publicity officer (Mr G. Blackler), who is associated with Mr R. S. Wakefield on the organising

committee, .said Philip McCabe played the leading role in “South Pacific” three years ago, and one of the principal parts in “Magyar Melody” last year. Florice Gordon, who has recorded for the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, stood in'for the leading soprano, Lenore Little, when she suffered throat infection during the presentation of “Magyar Melody." Gerry Harris is no stranger to the role of Jud Fry—he danced the part in the “Dream Ballet”, in the Dunedin Operatic Society’s production of “Oklahoma!"

“It is a good, balanced and reasonably experienced cast," said Mr Blackler. The stage director and set designer is H. McQuilkin, formerly of Ashburton, who designed and built a scale model of the set. Assisting him in the assembly and construction of props and scenery is a “hard core" of workers under Allan Ellis.