UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PERFORM GERMAN’S 'MERRIE ENGLAND'

Evening Star, Issue 26153, 15 July 1947, Page 9

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PERFORM GERMAN’S 'MERRIE ENGLAND'

There vvas much that was good and a certain amount that was poor in last night’s presentation by the Otago University Musical. Union of siir Edward German’s ‘ Merrie England.’ “ Concert version,” of course, means that this airiest of light operas is presented in the austerity of the open stage, without the assistance of scenery and the proper operatic approach to the work. . _ To present it as an operetta is obviously beyond the scope of the student union, and they faced a much harder task last night ’in making the show. a success. The lack of “atmosphere” was a big hurdle for them to overcome. The more enjoyable parts were the choral numbers, controlled by Mr Charles F. Collins. The orchestra, with its binding of more mature players, performed well on the whole, the woodwind section being worthy of mention. The soloists were Elizabeth Galway as Bessie [Throckmorton,, Jean Keane as Jill-All-Alorie. - Mona Ross as Queen Elizabeth, Alan Gardiner as Raleigh, and Gordon Sutherland as -Essex. Geoffrey de Lautour had some short solo passages, and a spoken explanation of the libretto was given by Rob McKenzie. ’ . There was a capacity house, mostly made, up of students.