“THE ARCADIANS.”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10725, 24 October 1928, Page 3

“THE ARCADIANS.”

G IS.BORNE/AMATEDR&vGONTlNl/E- SUCCESSFUL S&ASON

Tso . smarter , libretto' ./ejkucjjng'•the,, most‘'refreshing' lnnho'r' or fas-„. cinating imusic has ’-bteeii ' hoard - in - years in,* Gisborne; .than iin’ -“The :Ar- 1 cadians” . sta.ge,d" by i: J the/ v Qi&bbrno Amateur Operatic Sqciety, ..wrhielf was greeted 'with, another capacity ■ audieheev !&foihd'’KftioieC ,-Hbnse last ‘ night.- .-.Tffitv' another success,and tho large* brbwd whoAvithessedr{ the • second -. perform* > arico '/carried' 1 , away "a' delightful ; iml pressiorp of 4th Cir .«wdrk.‘ ' - The [ mtrriy; duction ; -n.iTinhCr of /performers' n6lV^te # thb i Eachthe- new /principals display-' ed- 'edhhdefieo a rid , entered into hi s; or Her work with' zest;/with the.; result- that-, the performance 7 ran/v/TLs course -'with .’a-* siriCothriess ; selddm as' sociated -With ■ ariiateiir productions.'. . Basted -on 7 a f ant a sticy Story, ." the prod action- Ls resplendent wi th delightful' scenic.'effects' changing from a roman lie ’ giadpV'in '/Arcady ; land. ; »t ; eternal- life, simplicity and'liruthfillness,- to a racecourse setting’ in England arid fin;nlly v a /fine scena- of an Arcadian-caharptyHq; all; of.’.-which novelty and originality of decorative, design were ’ predominant; 'The stag*. ing - was- charmingly/enhanced. hy ■ the robing of the cpntpany from.'thb;simple A rcadian'At.p,, the; modem*day Arcadia n■ t hd^blriirt;^l<hid ing/' sold a nil,' eye. *'• ’‘A.,;'’'-; -'-'yl v/-‘ / ""• The cast, is well Chosen, ■ though, the heavy work of tho opera isv capably carried by five\or : six .principals; Charming and* vivacious Miss-M. Corson filled (Eileen -.'Cav-ti-riagh with conspicuous ability: Her portrayal of/ a. spirited and capricious Irish colleen; sought; by* Cvyo lovers Avas -indeed charming,. whilst yitV the’more tender scenes with the sue cessi'ril/.stiitoi 7 Mr gave a carefully ance. Miss Corson■ was/ not,.. called upon to bear too much Fecal work, ■ but: she 'rendered her numbers “Bring Me a Hose,” and “The Girl with the/ Brogue” with .rare"/ charm, evoking-dheNwarmest -•approbation from the- house.; Her .duets with. Mr W: Bignell;’ “Charming Weather”, and “Half •'Past / Two” Were/ delightfully blended ‘and quite-, captivated the audience/ .. '. /• 7 '

Tim role of, Sombr/a,a .missionary from Arcadia, was7'tribst : capably "filt ed by Mrs.' J. Dwyer," whose perform l ance was carefully studied and restrained,' arid/f indicated ■ considerable experience. Possessing a. delightfully modulated voice/ she carried out the major portion ' of.'the vocal solo work with conspicuous ability; her renderings of “The Pipes .of Pan,”/' .and, “Arcady 'its 7 'Ever Young” being warmly received. Perhaps, her best number Ayas.'tli'e beautiful ' rendering of “Come Back to/ Arcady” which was greeted with' prolonged applause. Miss G.' Fanning; filled tne part -of Chrysaea, Soinbra’s sister in, the'mis-, siph of the reform of England;.-with much " charm. Her beautiful ; sopranovoice -Ava'Srheard to-mueh. advantage, in, her sold '‘‘f'/Like.'London.’’,'i ,/ ‘ VI. "Eind iHpoper’s . portrayal ./of the^gushing-iN&s; Smith* Avif!?-aftistic and refreshing’ ; iri its humor. She. showed considerable skill .and judgment in the-delivery/of; her .spoken lines, forcing '/ifome the. ' liiinior m them; A^hilst/. her.;/performance. ' /was ehhaijced fhy’ goocl < faciaH/cxpressidn ancl .gesture;, •/ : f ,///;. f 7. . 7 •'' ■’ The.. ra,alc lead.gof Jack .Meadows, was filled/by Mr W. Big-/ hell, whose experience in' thi&;class:bf work “gaA r e him 'corisickrablc■'.adyant-; age, added to winch the pcssession. qf a fine voice""was a deckled 'acquisition Hb A/'as' iU 's'pfeiidici' yoi'ce.'-and scorecl his solos‘flcfcte porWl¥fe J ' v a i ml , “‘ k ' r ftvV' 1 OfsK H , hrl--A*lirc; i *- and also harmonised well with Miss Corson in the duets. Irresistible humor permeates tho play and was presented in excellent stvle. The major portion of the lighter work fell upon Mr Zachariah as Sitaplicitas, and he convulsed the house Avith mirth in inimitable style his facial expression and costuming enhancing the merit of his performance. His solo “Siveet Sfmplicitas” provoked roars of laughter as did also •All Down Piccadilly.” -Mew to the' footlights as an amateur comedian, Mr. T. Moffatt scored an instantaneous success as Peter Doody, a jockey, his mournful expression and' sorroAvful voice and woebegone attitude' being themselves studies m humor, of the drollest-kind. With it all, however. Air Moffatt never overdid his work, and gave a masterly interpretation. , He delighted, the houso -with his solo “My Motter,” ' which: was greeted Avith • roars of laughter,, and., was accorded prolonged applause. Mr W. -Hamilton Irvine.gave a fine por- 1 trhyal of “Father Time,” and his number “I Quite Forgot Arcadia, ' was very popular., - ’ The role of Bobby, a friend or Jack Me ad oa vs, was --well - filled by- Mr. J. Turbiti, Avho scored a great hit AVith “Back Your Faricy’k : Mr A. J. Nicol played the part of Sir Geo. Paddock, a turf patron, gru/f of manner and arrogant, Avith much ability. Tho parts of other Arcadians were capably taken by Miss L. Trowell, “Amarvllis” ; Mr. xH. - Johns,' “Strephoh” Mr. J. -Holmes, “Damoetas” ; - Miss A. Shorriff,.; “Daphne”:; and- Mr. A. C. : Coleman, “Astrophei’.’; Miss A. Edwards,- 4l Heraid .of "Dawn.*': • In tho minor parts the' performers ail’ acquitted' themselves creditably. Miss Joy / Shri^’‘-“Pan,” - Mrs. lireo; “J/ady Barclay,” Mr. Athol Allr»ii “ercy"Marsh,” Mr. G. Hart “Hanp Desmond,” Miss •M. Craig ‘“Lucy Sehvyn,” Mr. $.- Barnard “lleggio,” ■ Miss U. Nolan “Marion,” Miss T. H,ill “Beatrica,”, ‘‘Miss K.-. EHik ‘ ‘Dryope’ ’. Much of tho success' of the- "play depends-, of 'course, on, its musics and this poTTioniin tho, bands of Air. Mainland.’Foster, was, as usual, •of a high-standard.' ' -“Tne Arcadians”" w,ill 'be y v staged again this evening.' -