AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1930, Page 7

AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY

SHOULD THERE BE A PRODUCTION

REVUE SUGGESTED AS SOLUTION.

Revue may replace comic opera this year as the production to be staged by the New Plymouth Amateur Operatic Society. A suggestion was made at the annual meeting last night that it might be wise not to hold a performance this season, but the opinion that something should be done prevailed. Revue was put forward as a solution of the problem and the result was that the new committee will consider the matter and a decision will be made at early date, Mr. A. M. Mac Diarmid presided over a general meeting to be held at an about 36 members.

The chairman said the society - was facing a serious position. He did not think a decision as to what should ba done should depend on that night’s meeting. He thought the question should be° left to ,the new committee, The takings from the last performance, £461, were not nea-rly enough to warrant a good show, such as the society must put on. It had to be considered whether there would be a loss.

He suggested new people should be put on the committee, with a leavening of old members, and that this body should investigate the possibilities. He would be sorry to see the society cease to exist, although they might consider whether it should not cease activities for a year. Last year they were unfortunate in choosing “Miss Hook of Holland,” an opera that did not suit the public taste, and, in addition, the performances clashed with some special “talkies.”

Mrs. Rowe suggested trying revuesomething very light. There would be no royalties to pay, she said. Mr. F. Cornwall said there was enough talent in New Plymouth to produce light comic opera, revue or high-class vaudeville. Once the society went into recess it might as well close down. The society should foster local amateurism and professionalism. If they sat down they would get nowhere. The chairman: Is the feeling of the meeting that we want an opera? Voices: Yes.

The chairman said that if it were decided to produce it was essential to have a great deal of new blood amongst the principals, both men and women. No matter how good they were the. public tired of principals they saw year after year. This was a matter the new committee would have to consider seriously.

Mrs. A. L. Humphries pointed out that as members of an incorporated society they were individually, responsible for any losses incurred. The chairman said the committee might consider putting on an opera on condition that 100 honorary members were found, thus ensuring a revenue of 100 guineas . This idea was rather favourably received. One suggestion was that money might be saved by doing without a producer, but the general opinion seemed to be that a producer was necessary, even for revue.

The annual report, which has already been published, was adopted. The bal-ance-sheet showed a loss of £127 4s 6d on the production of “Miss Hook of Holland.” The receipts totalled £5Ol 16a od, out of which the main payments were £l'24 16s for the use of the opera house and £BB for the producer. The year commenced, with a bank balance of £lBO 18s lid, and finished with a balance of £7l Us sd. Officers ,were elected as follow: —Patron, the Mayor (Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths); president, Mr. W.C. Weston; vice-presi-dents, eight .were elected; committee, Mesdamcs P. Atkinson, G. H. Weir, MissEvelyn Cartwright, Messrs A. B. Macdonald, W, F. Bamsay, A. M. Mac Diarmid, J. Bennett, jun., H. 0. Collier, C. Trehey; honorary auditor, Mr. C. B. Webster.

Votes of thanks were passed to all members of the society who helped last season and to Mr. 8. G. Smith, M.P., for obtaining a remission of the amusement tax.

Eight persons were nominated for membership. . • -