ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1932, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE—TO-NIGHT. Noel Coward’s most sensational farce hit supplies the story and intriguing title of “Private Lives,” to be screened to-night, Saturday’® matinee and evening, with Norma Shearer and Robert Montgomery. It is high farce at a break-neck pace and the most hilarous picture in many months. BLACKBALL—TO-NIGx- -.

“The Rainbow Trail” will be screened at Blackball to-night. W ALLSEND—TO-NIGHT. “Are You Listening?” heads the

programme to be screened at Wallsend to-night. BLAKETOWN HALL DANCE. The usual popular Blaketown Old Time Dance will be held on Monday next. Melody Four Orchestra will be in attendance. “MERRIE ENGLAND.” Sir Edward German’s comic opera “Merrie England” was presented last evening, in the Town Hall, before a large audience, by the Hokitika Amateur Operatic Society, in aid of the funds of the Grey Dental Clinic. The stage effects were assisted by coloured lights projected on the performers, and 1 a pleasing effect was produced. The scenery considerably enhanced the general setting of an excellent production, frequent applause marking the audience’s approval. The merit

attained was evidence of the pains taken to interpret the work of the composer, and no doubt the Hokitika Society will take courage at last evening’s further success with “Merrie England” to stage other operas of a 'similar nature. The producers were Miss Anne Duff and Mr W. Lindsay. Pianiste: Miss M. Giese. Stage manager: Mr R. Lynn. Scenery: Messrs R. Palmer, E. Heenan, J. Richards, J. Warnock and C. Day. Business manager, Mr AV. E. Richards. The coloured dresses and scenery

created favourable comment, in addition to the enjoyment of the production. Messrs J. Stopforth (Earl of Essex) and A. E. Perry (Sir Walter Raleigh) were splendid, several vocal numbers by the latter, both solo and duet, being outstanding features. Mr Stopforth was much appreciated in “The Yeomen of England.” Miss M. Jones was graceful in her presentation as Queen Elizabeth, and sang a charming solo, “O Peaceful England,” accompanied by the chorus. Messrs C. Wright and' T. Stopforth as Long Tom and Big Ben were very creditable, the former contributing vocal numbers. Mrs Perry (Jill-All-Alone), Miss Duff (Bessie Throckmorton) and Miss A. Lynn (the May Queen) each interpreted difficult roles in pleasing fashion, and their vocal efforts were heartily appreciated. The chorus played an important part Invaliding gaiety

to the scene, and in the concerted numbers gave zest to the performance, eliciting well-deserved applause. Mr C. Brooks (Walter Wilkins), a player in Shakespeare’s Company) and Mr B. Bulpin (Silas Simkins), another player) provided the humour in their parts, upon whom devolved' much of the comedy portion. Mr Arnold Perry’s tenor voice was much apreciated in the solo “That Every Jack Should Have His Jill.” His acting as Raleigh constituted a chief part, both his acting and singing being pleasure features of the opera.

The scene was that depicted on the banks of the Thames 1 , celebrating May Day. The opening chorus introduced the May Queen, and her two chosen men—Long Tom and Big Ben —who relate their differences, after which Jill-All-Alone, a reputed witch, enters and gives a skit on Cour-t life. The Queen demands customary treatment of witches, and others make their advent in'pursuance of the search for the witch. Essex arranges with Jill that Tom shall work upon the Queen’s fears. The scheme was successful, and the Queen pardoned Bessie and Jill. The curtain fell on a wedding dance, with Bessie and Raleigh the central figures. The caste was as follows: —The Earl of Essex, Mr James Stopforth; Sir Walter Raleigh, Mr A. E. Perry; Walter Wilkins, Mr C. Brooks; Silas Simkins, Mr B. Bulpin; Long Tom and Big Ben (Royal Foresters), Messrs C. Wright and T. Stopforth; The Queen’s Fool, Miss Hazel Perry; Butcher, Mr H. Lodge; Baker, Mr J. Stewart; Tinker, Mr H. Preston; Tailor, Mr H. Thiele; First Royal Page, Miss W. Stevenson: Second Royal Page, Miss D. McWhirter; Queen Elizabeth, Miss M. Jones; Mistress Bessie Throckmorton, Miss Anne P. Duff; “Jill-All-Alone,” Mrs A. E. Perry; The May Queen, Miss A. Lynn; Kate, Miss 0. Chesterman; Heralds, Misses C. Lynn and Violet Ross.

The Orchestra rendered valuable assistance, and comprised the following: Pianiste, Miss M. Giese; first violins, Mrs Knights, Mrs Preston, and Mr C.

B. Ross; second violins, Mr I’. Goodfellow and Mr J. Sweney; cornets, Air L. L. Ross and Mr D. Christensen; clarionet, Mr E. Moss; ’cello, Mr C. Moss; trombones, Mr A. K. Good and Air L. S. Ross; drums, etc., Mr LeoBarltrop and Mr 11. Chalk. Chorus: Misses H. Perry, W. Stevenson, Al. Sumner, T. Sumner, R. Shand', M. Hughes, M. Tainui, AL Gooch, F. Evans, Al. Halliday, Al. Rowe, M. Gillman, Al. Sweney, T. Sweney, O. Chesterman, E. Pfahlert, B. Pfahlert, B. Chaplin, D. McWhirter, L. Staines’ F. Wells, N. Brooks, V. Muir and Airs Lindsay. Messrs B. Woolhouse, J.

ell, C. Williams, K. Auld, .]. Stuart, A. Sumner. G. O’Brien, M. King, R. Chestermaii, G. Hutchison, H. Thiele, Al. Davidson, J. Hall, C. Reese, H. Lodge, IT. Preston.

The principal vocal items were as follow:—Act 1; Opening chorus, “Sling a down, a down, a down”; duet, “We are Two Proper Alen,” Long Tom and Big Ben; song, “O Where the Deer

do Lie, ’ Jill and Chorus ; song, chorus and dance, “1 Counsel that your Playtime, Wilkins; song and chorus, “That every Jack should have . a Jill," Raleigh; Quintet, "Love is meant to make us glad." May Queen. Kate, Raleigh, Long Tom, ami Wilkins; ballet, “She hud a Letter from her Love," Bessie; duet, “When True Love hath found a Man,” Raleigh and Bessie; trio and dance. “When a Man is a Lover,” 'Wilkins, Simkins and Essex; song, “The Yeomen of England,” Essex and Chorus; entrance of Elizabeth, “God Save Elizabeth"; song, “O Peaceful England,” Elizabeth with Chorus; song, “King Neptune Sat on His Lonely Throne,” Wilkins with Chorus;

finale, “It’s a Tale of Robin Hood.” Act 2.—Scene: A Glade in Windsor Forest by Herne’s Oak. Opening chorus with solo “The Month o’ May has come To-day,” Jill; trio with chorus, “The Sun in the Heaven is High,” Simkins, the Tailor, and the Butcher; duet, “The Big Brass Baud,” Wilkins and Simkins; duet, “It is the AJcrry Alonth of Alay,” Jill and Raleigh: chorus and dance, “The Queen of Alay is Crowned to-day”; song, “Dan Cupid hath a Garden,” Raleigh; ensemble, “Two Merry Men a-drinking”; song, “O Who shall say that Love is cruel?": song, “Perhaps you don't imagine,” Wilkins and Simkins; chorus and solo, “Oh! Here’s a to-do to die io-day'; finale, “Now who’ll come said Robin Hood.’-’ During an interval Air R. A. Barrowman (chairman of the Greymouth School Committee; returned thanks to the- Hokitika Society for having, at considerable- inconvenience, conn- to Gll ■ ynitjitl11 to g i vt- flllch a 1 i n<- ellle-r--tainnieiit to aid tin- Dental Clinic. Alter the performance, the member.-’, of the company wore entertained at supper in the Si. John's Hall, by the Dental Clinic Comrniiic-t-.