"PAUL JONES"

Grey River Argus, 5 October 1918, Page 4

"PAUL JONES"

GREYMOUTH

MONDAY AND TUESDAY

Commencing Monday and continuing on Tuesday evenings, theatre-goers will have an opportunity of witnessing a rendering of comic opera by Hokitika amateurs under, the staging and coaching pf a professional producer ; and Mr Tom Pollard has a peculiarly happy faculty of imparting his knowledge to others and better still gettng from them that earnestness and attention that gives the, real atmosphere to the stage picture. In this particular asset they exhibit more respect for their audience than do many professionals — Mrs Staveley, Miss A. Wells, Mrs I. Wilson and Miss Perry, have done good amateur work in the Gondoliers—the same may be said of Mr Ivon Wilson, the new-comers in comic opera being Miss E. Hatch and Mr. H. Coulson, and the two Greymouth amateurs, Mr Len McGlashan and Master Reggie Nash, the latter is only a youth and in casting Master Nash for such an important role, Mr Pollard is evidently j swayed by the great success Mr C. ! Albert (The Insect) made of the part when only practically a chiTd. Mrs Staveley is well cast as "Yaul Jones" and gives a eood account of herself in the part — Miss Edna Perry as the Yvonne and her beautiful soprano voice is particularly suited to tKe scena, "Before the Altar." The walte number is the first act, as well as the duet, "A Little Bird on Weary Wirg" with PaufJones and the charming dainty "Shipping Duet" *Bicoquet," Mr H. Coulson. Miss Wells has a very fine Spanish solo, "A Lost Dove" in the first act and no more charming number than the serenade at the opening of the second act is in the score. Mrs Ivon Wilson's singing contributions are in the lighter vein her chief number being the quaint song "Look at My Sabots" a character sketch that is followed by a clog trio danced by Mrs Ivon Wilson and the two Misses Mclntosh. Miss E. Hatch as Malauena, has no solo work— the part being more on the dramatic side, but a lot of important work falls to her share in the duets, trios and ensembles. Smaller parts are played by Miss A. Woolhouse, Mrs W. Diedrichs, Miss E. Heenan, Miss E. Mclntosh, Miss A. Nancekevill and Miss Butland. Mr H. H. Coulson as "Bicoquet" and Mr Ivon Wilson as the eccentric "Trocadero" are well cast. Messrs W. Staveley, A. Woolhouse, D. Heenan, and A. Nancekivill are seen in small parts. The two comedians that bear the brunt of the first two acts find strong exponents in the two Greymouth amateurs — Mr Len McGlashan and Master Reggie Nasfo — and when this duet is made a trio by the coming of Mr Ivon Wilson in the 3rd act as "Trocadero" laughter reigns supreme. Mention must be made of the splendid choruses — "Maidens of St. Malo," "The SerenaSe," "True to His Troth," "He Looked at my Sabots," the splendid ensemble at the end of the 2nd act and the delightful number, "Till the Light Fades Away" with its wealth of coloured light, and the gliding eastern dance. The special electric and coloured lighting is under the control of Mr. T. Pollard, Junr. The orchestra under Mr Fred Restenux will practically be a professional one. Prices: 3s, 2s and Is. plus war tj;x, with no extra charse for booking in D.C. and front stalls is certainly on the popular side for opera.