“A RUNAWAY GIRL”

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1927, Page 9

“A RUNAWAY GIRL”

FASCINATING COMIC OPERA NEW PLYMOUTH AMATEUR SOCIETY SUCCESSFUL OPENING O? SEASON. Gay with the full fascination of bright choruses, brilliant costuming and breezy personalities, wonderfully picturesque in its pretty Corsican and Venetian settings, and softened by the sweet romance which is the fragrance of every flower of opera yet produced, “A Runaway Girl” opener! its four-night season at the New Plymouth Opera House last night with a warmth and a lilt that should ensure full houses for the rest of the season. It is no idle boast to say that the New Plymouth amateurs on this occasion surprised most of those who saw them. Evidence of expert preparation is seen in every number, and the producer, Mr. F. Reade Wauchop, as well as those who have responded so well to his instruction, are to be heartily congratulated. The selection of a work of the calibre of “A Runaway Girl” was in the first place a wise one, for its buoyant and fresh comedy and the gaiety of its music is in l®rmony with the spirit of the present age. Most people seek the theatre nowadays to escape from the routine of their daily round, and to find happiness and distraction in the cheerfulness of an idyllic stage life. “A Runaway Girl” will not disappoint them, for under its genial influence it is only along the primrose paths of real delight that they can follow their imagination. In almost every stage production there is one feature that lives in the memory long after the event is a thing of the past, and in this ease it will be the well-known song, “Oh! Listen to the Band.” Its catchy air will be hummed in many a Taranaki home during the next week or two, and the brightness of its setting will linger long in the mind’s eye of anyone who saw and heard it. STORY OF THE OPERA. The story of “A Runaway Girl” is a simple one. Winifred Gray, a student at the Convent of St. Pierre, receives word from the Mother Superior that her guardians, Lord and Lady- Coodle, have arranged a marriage for her with their nephew, Guy Stanley, and that she is to join them immediately on tour. Upset by this arrangement, Winnie runs away from the convent and joins a band of Gipsy musicians. While thus disguised, she meets Guy, who, attracted by her charms, falls in love with her and joins the same band, much to Coodie’s disgust. Lord Coodle, hearing 1 of Winnie’s disappearance from the convent, is induced by Alice, the maid, with Stanley'« assistance, to engage her young man, Flipper, as courier, in order that they may have reliable guidance in their search for Winnie. Many amusing incidents are furnished by Flipper in his endeavour to bluff the part. In the meantime, Winnie, wishing to leave the Gipsies, arranges to have Guy and Flipper accompany her to Venice, where they are followed by the guardians and Gipsies, the latter endeavouring to obtain the reward offered for news of Winnie's whereabouts bv palming off one of their band as the heiress. Guy exposes the fraud, produces Winnie, and all ends happily. Of the production in general, it may be said that there is no real weakness. On the oilier hand, in many respects it lives up to the best standard of stagecraft. Considerable attention has obviously been bestowed on the things that count—the factors that together will transform a mere cool appreciation of a play to a genuine enthusiasm. The chorus, while it was lacking in male voices, was strong in other respects, and the firmness and brightness with which they attacked the numbers from the start was a tribute to the assiduous work of the producer and the musical director (Mr. F. Cornwall). The ballets in the opera are not numerous, but what there are were daintily executed, the crowning triumph being the performance of the brilliantly scarlet military ballet as they swung their limbs to the inspiring strains of “Oh! Listen to the Band.” In the lighting effects, no less than in the scenery and costumes, was the pleasure *of the eye provided for, and he is a phlegmatic person indeed who does not find genuine delight in the twilight scenes where all the colours of the rainbow merge and fade. Particularly effective in this respect is the sunset scene at the convent featured by the rosy .glow on the lilac tree. Light has not been lost of the fact that first and last impressions will probably remain longest, and the colour and animation of the opening scene was as impressive as the rousing strength of the last chorus. CHARACTERS WELL CAST. The society is fortunate in more ways than one vucti its cast ot characters, untie stability is lent by experienced artists who are already veil versed in die liner points oi me uusmess, several ot Hie principals are making their deoul as it were, a».d tne public of jXortn laraiuiki who nave not yet seen the performance will find several distinct gems. the leading lady, Miss Irene viluert, piayed Her part splendidly fo r one so young, and when Her voice has tiie added power ot another year or two sue will be an invaluable asset to any society. As Winifred Grey, the Runaway Girl, she was called on many times for both song and dialogue, and was never tound .wanting. Flaying opposite Her, Mr. C. Al. Trcliey admirably tilled his part as the nephew of Lord Goodie, and though his strong voice was not given scope in a song of "Not the Sort ot Girl,” he had belter opportunity in bis duet with Winifred. Air. G. V. Lambert as Brother Tama rind raised a burst of laughter before hi had spoken a word, and after his departure from the stage the house invariably looked forward to his next appearance with bright anticipation. The laughter-makers, in fact, were many and varied. People expected something good from the jockey, Air. George Clapham, and as Flipper he provided plenty of boisterous humour. Hardly less comical in their respective styles were the absurd entomolcrist (Mr. H. Morey) and the rather idiotic Lord Coodle (Mr. Jack Harley). Last but not least of the comedy characters was Carmenita (Mrs. J. Birch-Johnston) who filled with the distinction of a born actress the part of the mercenary, counterfeit, but withal light-hearted Carmenita. THE FIERCE MUSICIANS. To a certain extent comical but rather awe-inspiring in their brigand like ap-

pearance and fierce ways were the troupe of musicians led by Leonello (Air. Baden Bellringer). The part suited him well, and on several occasion he was given the opportunity of using the voice which has already won him recognition a- a member of the New Plymouth Melody Four.

The understudy of Airs. Ferrick and called into prominence at the last minute through the formers’ inability to carry on, Miss lary Jeffries made good al once as Dorothy Stanley. I’er not over-powerful voice was sweet and true in the solo part of the most popular musical number of the . veiling, and she carried the day with her bright personality. No brighter was It, however, than that of Aice the maid (Mrs. Mears) than whom no one could have been daintier or sprightller. A strong cast of principals was completed by the jovial tourist Jir William Hake (Mr. A. M. AlaeDiarmid), Mrs. Creel (Miss O. Shaw), Lady Coodle (Mrs. K. Roskruge), the two gendarmes (Messrs. J. Penny and F. Newell), and the two solo danseuses (Mrs. P. F. Atkinson and Mis l Hutchen). The music was undoubtedly one of 'he finest features of the opera, and Mr. Cornwall may well be proud of the work ot both orchestra and chorus.

The opera will be produced again tonight, to-morrow night and Saturday night, but the .ompany will not travel this year as it did last year, on account o; its size and the expense involved.