AMATEURS ON STAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19474, 2 November 1926, Page 12

AMATEURS ON STAGE.

" THE ARCADIANS " REVIVED, —TT A NOTABLE REVIVAL. OPERATIC SOCIETY'S SUCCESS. Tho once-popular music of "Tits Arcadians" again resounded through the auditorium of His Majesty's Theatre last evening, when tho Auckland Amateur Operatic . Society opened its annual theatrical season with a revival of this tuneful, whimsical musical comedy. It was a. truly delightful performance of a delightful mu,sica! play and its producer, Mr. Theodore Treziso, may well glow . with pride at the result of his handiwork. In selecting "The Arcadians" for this season's, production, tho society could hardly go wrong, for although the passage of some 16 years must inevitably cast a gently archaic rather than an Arcadian imprint upon its composition, there is not a single Charleston fiend who will nob fall in love with its pretty phantasy, its sparkling melody and its very ivittv dialogue. Pre-war enthusiasts will recall with fond regard the mock classic tale of the comic London restaurant-keeper's astonished entry into the romantic land of the Arcadians, how he .was thrown into the weLl of truth to cleanse him of his shocking passion for lying, and finally of how the Arcadians came into the British Isles "to set up the truth in England and forever bajiish the lie." And they will remember how the Deuce won the race at Ask wood and how the forlorn jockey, the now famous Peter Doody, loot his old love and became for all time a bag of concentrated misery. All these characters and incidents, so dear to the memory of the fleeting years that aro past, have been brought to life again in all their finery and prove such effective material that even the puns have not lost their power to galvanise a whole audience into mad laughter. . Notable Concerted Singing, Picking out impressions from what must be one of the most notable efforts ever put forth by the Operatic Society, what seemed particularly impressive was the magnificent concerted singing of the large chorus and the high all-round standard of the acting. The solos were weak, with tho one exception of Mr. Ernest Snell, but the brilliant orchestral work under the direction of Mr- Colin Mils ton and the unusually high dramatic abilities displayed by some of the principals compensated for any weakness in that direction: Indeed, such animation Was invested in! the performance that it. was difficult to bear in mind that this Was a first-night show. 'lt was, for one thing, so devoid of ensemblodiscrepancies.etage waits and the otbTr shortcomings th&fc one has 'a right to 1 ; expect from a first night thai 110 vital idea occurs ''for ite improvement. In one respect it #llß preeminent and that was in the perfection of the costiiming and stage dressing. There arc traditional reasons for mentioning first the comic rolo of Peter Doody. Mr. Norman MacPherson is not an absolute straoger in, amateur circle. &hd there could be no misgivings ai to the complete success he would make of the droll jockey. His picture off-poor -Doody, starving himself to keep down his weight and in terror lest a win on his part would so surprise tho jockey club that h*> would be warned off, wus an immense piece of art and was thoroughly enjoyad by the large house. No less was the success of Mr. G. L. Lytteiton as the inimitable Cockney caterer, James Smith, baptised Simplicities by tho Arcadians. His wps the knockabout comedian, pari arid ho did it thoroughly. A Kev Principal Girl. This year's principal girl is Miss Dorothy Hoskin, a complete - to the Auckland stage, yet one who.made a' most favourable impression last evening. ■ A* Sombra, the' Areadian girl, she be* trayed a clear diction and a Voice of pleasing quality, her songs, / "llie Fipes of . Pan Are Calling," "Arcady it .Very young," and "Light is My Heart," being sweetly , suing.' Miss Beryl NefcWeton in > the soubretto part of Eileen i.a.va»j»gfc, danced and sang with no little >/ra»'anc» charm, displaying a, lively fancy in "The Girl With a Brogue'," and the duet, "Charming Weather." Miss Audrey j?ick<inson as . Chrysaeia . also took a leading , l role with ease and made a delightful wapression. 'Miss Ethel Bac ventured ;a startling departure _ from her customary types and played light comedy as Mrs. Smith. It was completely effective, Mr. Len Keven was Sir George Poddoek to the proverbial T, while Mr. J. N. Gordon, aa Percv Marsh, had a smaller biifs presentable "role. Mr. Snail whose timingfW - the backbone as far as the vocal work of the * principals was concerned, J : f as =i ; Pftr-' ticularly fine in '-'Fickle Fortune.'-'- 'Mr. Dick Hahn fitted easily into the rqle of Bobbie, and made a success 'of Back I Your Fancy andvpihereong*. <-A r «tomI mendable piece of character acting wss that of Mr. Raymond Reeve as the mythological figure of Time, while Mr. W. G. Trevarthen, as James Withers Mr. W. Aas Reggie, Mr. JR. N. Estoipe as Astrophel. Mr. F. W, < Martin % as Strcohon and* Mr. J.;'W. Manning as Damcetas had smaller 'roles. Mi*s Dorothy Richardson contributed, a graceful solo dance and Mr. Alan Hart and Moss Isabel Brook a; striking duo. 'Miss Joyce Steven? son as' Lady Barclay, Miss Rosie Schitteiaeman as AmarvlUs, Miss Nina Scott as Dryope, also filled , their respective parte With distinction. ' . • The only regret, it would seem, u> the shortness of, the _seasoii,_ which will be limited to seven more nights, only-