DANNEVIRKE AMATEURS IN MUSICAL COMEDY

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7241, 12 June 1930, Page 8

DANNEVIRKE AMATEURS IN MUSICAL COMEDY

“Diane Develops” Well drilled, attractive ballets, bright choruses, abundant humour, and capable stago managing, all contributed to tho appeal of tho three-act musical comedy, “Diane Develops” which the Daunevirke amateurs staged last evening in Palmerston North, ’lho production which was under the direction of tho well-known amateur producers, Messrs G. Cardston and J. Davidson-Baxter, deserved a much better audience than it received, for it vas one of the brightest amateur shows which Palmerston North has seen for some time. It was very evident that experienced direction was behind the production for from curtain to curtain throught three acts, thore was not a hitch.

The ballets were charmingly dressed and for this credit must, go to the wardrobe mistress, Miss S. Mexted. They were also excellently drilled and danced with a unison that is not always apparent in amateur performances. Various popular numbers from well known musical successes, past and present, were interpolated and wore very well rendered both in solo and chorus. “Choese your Pretty Partners” from the “Country Girl,” and rhe more modern “Pretty Things” (Rose. Marie), “Was It a Bream” (Rose Marie), “Painting the Clouds with Sunshine” (Gold-diggers oi Broadway), “March of the Grenadiers.” “When My Dreams Come True” and “I Lift Up My Finger and I Say Tweet Tweet,” have already established their popularity and sung in the settings they were given by this company, they did not suffer. The plot like all musical comedy was incidental to tho music but it offered abundant scope for intriguing and amusing situations. In tho cast one character was outstanding and that was tho socially nspiring and matrimonially ambitious Madaniio Pazooti, proprietress of the hotel and mother of the fair Diane. Mr J. Davidson-Baxter played this comedy rolo in a manner that itself ensured success. His verbosity never flagged and his appreciation of the humorous made the most of many entertaining opportunities.

The part of Diane was well taken by Mrs Horace Jensen who showed herself the possessor of a very charming and true singing voice. Opposite her was Mr L. A. Kendall as the Prince disguised as a bell-boy, a part which he took convincingly. Mr J. S. Donaldson as tho designing Prince and villain of the piece was a trifle stilted but on occasions very good. The two attendant and excessively i>olito counts were well characterised by Messrs E. Moore and J. AY. Hood while the part of the excitable and ultra-Gallic hotel manager was well played by Mr 11. W. Ford. Another charming lady was Kruska. the telephone girl, played by Miss Mabel Gunderson while Mi£s Gladys Harper had a small but very satisfactory part as a Paris modiste. AVitk the bright singing and bafivts, and a gay mannequin parade tlic production was a very presentable effort on which the Dannevirkc amateurs are to be congratulated.