"MUSCENA"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 8

"MUSCENA"

COLLEGE ENTERTAINMENT A PRAISEWORTHY EFFORT It was an ambitious venture on the part of those responsible to present, in connection with the jubilee celebrations of the King Edward Technical College, a production of the type of "Muscena," which commenced a season of four nights in His Majesty s Theatre last evening. It was ambitious for two reasons. First, in its whole conception and presentation, it was entertainment of a kind that would have taxed the powers of a company of mature artists; and secondly, because, from scenery to costumes, from dances to sketches, it was entirely the work of the staff and pupils of the college. For those two reasons alone "Muscena" is deserving of considerable praise for the manner of its presentation. The difficulties which must have faced the producer, Mr Gordon Tovey, and the cast, are obvious. They do not pretend to be professionals, and they had to carry out their rehearsals as an addition to. their educational studies, Whether as. teachers or scholars.' i It is not to be expected that among children up to the age of 16 years there will be found enough diverse talent to sprinkle such a show with star soloists, and the producer made a wise decision not to rely on individuals so much as on general effect, gained through striking colours, animated movement and picturesque scenery. •■ ■ . Making full allowance, then, for the difficulties which had to be faced, Mr Tovey, the assistant producer (Mr O. C. Stephens), and the stage manager (Mr Angus Gorrie) presented to a large audience last night an entertainment that was as delightfully fresh as it was unusual, "Muscena" is produced in seven colourful scenes, and seven bright interludes, and as there is no speaking in any of the former the players Conveying the story by elementary" miming and mass' movement against' a background of excellently conceived and painted scenery—the work of the staff and the senior pupils of the Art School—particular care had to be taken with the general effect created. Taken as a whole, that effect was good' "In a Persian Market gave ample scope for bright, multicoloured costumes against the setting of an Eastern bazaar,. and - with its dancers, beggars, merchants, watercarriers, and slaves, it provided a pleasing, contrast to "In An Qlde • English Ballroom;".' in , which bewigged and stately courtiers danced a measure with their ladies. The setting for "In the Precincts of a Monastery" was particularly good and showed evidence of painstaking work, and here monks and choirboys combined after some miming to sing as a round the well-known '• Summer Is A-coming In." A mountain village in Bohemia was the background for some livelv dancing on the part of picturesque peasants and a shooting Darty. complete with gun carriers and in a French garden of the seventeenth century a competent choir sang "It Was a Lover and His Lass, "Sweet and Twenty." and "Sing and We Chant • It" in pleasing harmony. The two final scenes took the audience to Greece and Italy respectively In the former a group of boys gave an outstanding exhibition of acrobatic Dosing and tableau work, while the finale "In the Forum of Pompeii featured a victory mach. which culminated in a particularly realistic impression of the eruption of Vesuvius and the earthquake. All those who took part in the scenes acquitted themselves well. , , , . The seven sketches, or interludes, were almost entirely in the hands of two pupils, Joan Delaney and Vernon Scott, a couple of capable little performers who fought strenuously all night against the noise created by some shifters at the back of the stage For the remainder of the season they will do better if thev wait for their laughs, which they create with ease. Of their several sketches they did best in "Could William Tell?" and "The Dragon and George." both delightful interludes. In two or three of the sketches? thev had the invaluable ass-st-ance of a ludicrously life-like horse, "composed" of Masters Bruce Kyle and Robert Garner. , The musical side of the entertainment was in the capable hands of Ur T. Vernon Griffiths, who had under his baton an orchestra of 50. almost all of them pupils of the college. Dr Griffiths was responsible for the arrangement, of all the music, in addition to composing some of it himself, and it considerably enhanced the success of the production. "Muscena" will be presented nighdv for the rest of the week wtih a matinee on Saturday.