OPERATIC SOCIETY'S PRODUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22907, 15 June 1936, Page 7

OPERATIC SOCIETY'S PRODUCTION

"THE MAID OF THE MOUNTAINS"

Commencing with a matinee on Saturday next, at His Majesty's Theatre, the Duncdin Operatic Society will present its winter attraction, " The Maid of the Mountains." The season is for one week, with matinees each Saturday and on the King's Birthday. The music of •'The Maid of the Mountains" is as fresh and appealing as the day it was written, and the story needs not one wjprd of revision or deletion to give it a modern flavour. The play overflows with related incident. and smart dialogue, and Major F. 11. Lampen, the producer, can be relied upon to see that on the eve of production no detail is lacking. Miss Freda Elines, as Teresa, has the biggest singing part, and he; soprano voice should be heard to advantage in " Love Will Find a Way " and " My Life is Love," and in the duet, "A Paradise for Two," with Mr Arthur Lungley. Miss Gwenda .Burt, as Vittoria, has a part which should suit her to perfection, and her clever comedy work, associated with her rich contralto voice, should endear her to her audiences. Miss Patsy Stephens, a newcomer to operatic productions, has a non-singing role in that of the haughty Angela, daughter of the Governor of Santo (Major F. H. Lampen). Mr Reynolds Herbert has the exacting rolo of Baldasarre. Mr Arthur Lungley, as Beppo, has the main singing role in the male cast. He has several delightful numbers, including " A Bachelor Gay." Mr R. Wilson Brown, who has the role of Tonio, the long-lost husband of Vittoria, is well-known as a clever comedian, and is reappearing in operatic productions. Major Lampen is cast as the fussy old Governor, and he and his aide, Mr'Gaston (Crumpet) also keep the comedy situations moving. Others in the cast are Miss Mollie Francis (Marietta), Messrs Jack Johnson (Lieutenant), E. W. Griffiths (Mayor). Alex. M'Dowell (Carlo), Mason Harrould (Pietro); E. Murphy (Warder), and E. Fish (Zachi). The ballets, always a feature of the society's productions,'have been specially trained and devised by Miss Constance Potts, and the chorus, said to be one of the strongest ever assembled, is under the direction of Mr James Dixon.. The whole play is under the direction of Mr F. H. Lampen, with Mr Angus Gorric as stage manager and Mr Vincent Stapp as stage technician. The box plans for the whole season are now open at Begg's, and the day sales will he at the Rialto.