UP AGAINST IT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 11 May 1929, Page 7

UP AGAINST IT

CHRISTCHURCH OPERATIC SOCIETY INADEQUATE SUPPORT ,By Telegraph—Special to “The Mail ) CHRISTCHURCH, 10th May. A week or two ago the Christchurch Operatic Societv produced a light opera, “Going Up,” which, though all those who saw it declared it excellent, did not receive sufficient support to pay expenses. At the close of the final performance, Mr G. H. Hall, vice-presi-dent of the society, stated that it might not be possible to stage another production. “The question of whether we will carry on or not, is to he decided at the meeting of the society on Tuesday next. Personally, I would advise the society to carry on, and produce ‘Going Up’ here again later in the year, probably about November,” said Mr G. L. Donaldson, secretary of the society today. “We, as a society, exist only to deliver the goods, and we do deliver the goods. We have staged nine or ten shows, and only one has been at all open to criticism, and that only at the first performance. Our shows are as good as professional shows. We deliver the goods, but if we can’t pay expenses, we must stop. Our loss on ‘Going Up’ was not very big, and if we can sell the scenery we should come out all right,” lie said. “The scenery has been leased to the Nelson Society with the option of purchase. Unfortunately we have no place in which to store the scenery, or it could be kept for hire. Three leasings -would pay as much as selling, and we would still own it.”