OPERATIC SOCIETY READING

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 135, 4 December 1935, Page 5

OPERATIC SOCIETY READING

The activities of the Wellington Operatic Society for the present year were brought to a conclusion last evening, when three one-act plays were presented to a very large and enthusiastic audience comprised of members and their friends. The first reading was J. M. Barries well-known play, "Seven- Women," and the parts were taken by the following members: — Mrs. Tovey by Olga Dray; Mr. Tovey by Claude Fisk; Captain Rattray by Jack Mclntosh; and Leonora by Valeric Ashenden. The second reading was one of Woodhouse's farces entitled "A Slice of History," Eric Harrison playing the part of Henry VIII, and Gordon Fraser that of Cardinal Wolsey. The third play to be read was A. J. Talbot's play, "Lucretia Borgia's Little Party," and the parts were allocated as follows:—Roberta Griffin as Lucretia Borgia, Ron Pritchard :as Cesare Borgia, Cynthia Burge as Fiametta Strotzi, Barbara Syme as Isabella D'Este, Morice Cachemaille as Ricardo l Ridolfl, Cliff Somerville as Leonardo 'Da Vinci. Vernon Small as Nicolo Machiavelli. Mrs. Doris Benson as Tessa, and George Power as Baldasarre. The first reading was produced by •Alwyn Rees-Jones, while the remaining two were in the hands of Eric Harrison. In between the second and third readings Dulcie McKinley gave a bracket of songs, the accompaniste being Mrs. Arthur Haley. Stage directions were read by Morice Cachemaille, and the scenery and "lighting effects were in the capable hands of Stan ■Philpott. At the conclusion of the entertainment supper was served by the members of the social committee.