PRINCESS JU JU.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2764, 19 August 1931, Page 5

PRINCESS JU JU.

DELIGHTFUL operetta. a noteworthy performance SUCCESS AT A performance that reflects great •credit on all concerned, and which will serve to ,be- a treasured musical memory for many .-years in the minds . of all'who listened, as well as cf all who sang and played, was the presentaiion*; on Monday evening in the Aurora Theatre; Paeroa, of that delightful operetta, ‘ Princess Ju Ju,” by the newly formed Thames Valley Operatic Society. Thera was seating accommodation in the theatre for 740, and practically every seat was occupied when, after the overture, a selection from “Wildflower,” by the Paeroa Orphans’ Club Orchestra under Mr V. J. Innes, the curtain went up to show a scene in a Japanese Emperor’s palace courtyard, where festivities were being held in honour' of the coming of age birthday .of the . Princess Ju Ju. The populace, gorgeously attired in Japanese national costumes, made a spectacular: •scene as they sang their welcome to the Princess Ju Ju (Miss Helen Matthews) and her attendants, the .Misses Violet Heappey, Heath Forrest, Minnie Hart, .‘Nancy Adam, Joy Blyth and Annie Goonan. Very effective were the • concerted numbers— ‘The Japanese National • Anthem’’ and “Hail to the Land of / the Rising Sun”—during the entrance . of the Emperor (Mr W. Forrest) and his retinue (Messrs R. CapilJ, K. Lawrence and Young). Mr Forrest’s solo, “I am the Mighty Hokipokitipitoptop,” was very, good, the chorus and the theme tune by the orchestra being delightful... The work of the orchestra from first to, last was a rare musical treat, and it/ splendid i. accompaniment must have 'inspired 1 chorus and soloists alike to give of their best, the collaborated lesult being a success musically, whicn will establish a fine reputation for the company.

• The story deals with the plight of a noble prince (Mr E. H. Bartley) who, in-accordance -with a prophecy, had come to claim the Princess Ju Ju as his’ bride, but who, on account of - having been robbed On his journey of 'the proofs of his high estate, arrives- ’ with two companions (Messrs J. and ijA. Epps) disguised as minstrels and ■ (were classed as imposters and ordered to the'dungeon to await* execution, despite the pleading of Ju Ju. Enter1 tainment of a high order was provided • for the Emperor during this act,by a ballet,. comprising the little Misses Joy Piyott, Muriel Jones, Viva-White, Mavis Gee, Olive Gee, Ngaere Nich- ■: oils and;Wanda Taiboys, who z had been trained'by Miss Emmott. The solo - dancer,ilittle Miss Audrey Wood, well deserved her recall. - The second act opened in an en- ' chanted glen, where Ju Ju had gone to consult the. Magician (Rev. W. G. H. Weadon) in order to the ■ veracity of the Prince. With the aid of his “Spirits of Night” this is to be accomplished /on ' the following day. i The ac.t serves for the introduction of a quintette, “A Japanese Lbve Song,” by Mesdames ’ Silcock, Shaw, Turton, and James, and Miss Emmott, and a . tableau by Ju Ju and the Prince. The night' scene ■ also served to introduce the soloist, Mrs Wood and her attendant star, Miss Rita. Smith, as a preludeto a ballet dance by the Spirits •of the Night (Misses Barbara Barclay, Gwen Strong, Patricia Chamberlain, Mollie Goonan, Laurel Leece, Beryl Hampton, and Miss A. Barclay, the solo dancer), and the solo by Lunar, Goddess of Night (Mrs J, H. "Evans).,.., The antics of the magician in summonsing and directing his •“Spirits.: of the Night” were very amusing.: . Returning to the courtyards cf the Emperor’s palace for the final act, dances and tricks were given by Misses A. Barclay, A. Wood, and J. ... Pivott that well deserved their recall. Feeling bored, the-Emperor ordered that the three princes be brought .from their dungeon to entertain him while awaiting their execution. The song and dance which they gave was appropriate, to the occasion, and the Emperor and the audience were re- = lieved at the arrival of the executioner (Mr W: A. C. Stewart). His song and those of the Prince, “Farewell, . Love,” and of the Princess Ju Ja, ‘Ah, Stay Your Hand,” “See the Proofs,” were well rendered, as also were the choruses, “Saved from Death,” “Ring ■ the Merry Bridal Bells/’ “Welcome to the Princess Ju Ju,” and the grand finale, “Hail to the Land of the Rising .Sun,” in which the whole. cast *of 50 took part.. • (During, an interval between ■! the acts OlNeill, in the absence of the President of the Operatic Society (Mr. R, W. Evans), spoke of the , month/* of work preparing for the i presentation of the entertainment, and ' paid a tribute to the work of the pro z •ducer, Mr Harold/J. Hill. He also I

thanked Mr V. J. Innes and the Orphans’ Club Orchestra, the hallet mistress (Miss Emmott), the wardrobe mistresses (Mesdames Neil’ and Gee); Messrs W. Moore and L. O. East, who had “made up” the players; Mr W. J. Towers, who had donated wall paper for decorations; Mr W. A. C. Stewart, the stage manager, and the committee and others who had worked behind the scenes at the many details which had gone to make the preesntation such a success. The players had acquitted themselves with remarkable skill and dexterity, and the reception which their efforts had been accorded had been amply rewarded. “I "Eave said this as a vice-presi-dent of the Society and as a member of the audience/’ continued Mr O’Neill. ‘Now as a church-warden of St. Paul’s, I endorse the remarks <>f the previous speaker. Here again I commend the work of Mr Hill, who has done so much for his love of his Church.” Concluding, Mr O’Neil] said that the members of the Socle;;/ had been drawn from all denominations, and were bound together by then- art. At the close of the performance a number of bouquets were handed up to Miss Matthews and the principal members of the cast, while all the tiny members received boxes of chocolates. A flashlight photograph was taken of the audience, and after it had dispersed photographs were taken of the company and the orchestra.

There is every chance of the performance being repeated again for some local charity, but whether this is done or not the Society does not intend to disband, but to work up something else, perhaps a Gilbert and Sullivar opera for presentation next year.