TE AWAMUTU PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

Waipa Post, Volume IV, Issue 170, 10 December 1912, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

VISIT TO KIHIKIHI.

TheTe Awamutu Philharmonic Society visited Kihikihi on Fri-

day and staged the charming Japanese operetta, "Princess Chrysanthemum." The perform- * w ance was quite up to, if not in advance of the previous excellent displays, and was thoroughly enjoyed by those who had the good fortune to be present. The Town Hall was packed to its utmost limits and expressions of delight at the beauty of the scenery and costumes were universal. Rarely if ever has *, Kihikihi experienced such a treat in the musical line, and the Society has every reason . to be proud of the performance. Miss Vei a Rickit again gave a charming rendering Of the title role, Princess Chrysanthemum, her songs, " Which Shall it Be ?" and " Home of My Childhood,"

being thoroughly appreciated by the audience, while her duet with Mr Parker, the "Dawn of Love," received quite an ovation. Messrs E. Parker and J. Mih*oy, as Prince So Tru and Prince So Sli, rivals for the hand of the cess, carried off their re'spectivevparts with great credit. Mr Parker's song, "Love's Kingdom," was a very fine performance, while Mr Milroy received considerable applause for his excel-

lent rendering of " A Jolly Little Japanese Sailor Man." Mr Galloway's make-up as Top Not was exceptionally gbbd, and his humorous interpretation of the part of Court Chamberlain, a most creditable performance. His song, "The GoldeV Butterfly," was very effective. <|Mr Bu>chell ,gave a good expositipn of. the dignified part of the Emperor What-for-Whi, and his songs, " I am the Emperor What-fo:-

Whi,"' and " Whether You Like It or Not," were excellent, being accompanied by very " catchy " tunes. He was attended by M=sr.rs W. Johnr,, S. Richards, R. North and A. White, who faith- ' fully carried out the commands of his Imperial Majesty. Mrs Black looked charming as O. San, Cherry Blossom Maid, and showed considerable knowledge of stage technique. She sang

" Cherry Blossom Ripe in Japan" very sweetly, and gave a very pretty dance. Mrs B!ack also duplicated the part of Tu Lip "> with a beautiful rendering of " Lullaby Land." Mrs C. F. Battson looked the part of Fairy Moonbeam to a 'nicety, and her song, " The Path of Love," was received with great applause. - Miss Mamie Schulze, Miss, L. - Glasson, Miss Flo Rickit, and Mrs Black took the parts of To To, Yum Yum, Du Du and Tu Lip respectively, being; the four

maidens in attendance -on the' Princess Chrysanthemum, and formed a charming picture of gay girlhood. Last but not least among the principals must be mentioned the name of Mr O. Price Owen, the Society's scenic artist, who again scored heavily in, the part of Saucer Eyes, the Wizard Cat. His grotesque make-up and unearthly cater- rwaling added considerably to the effectiveness of the scene in the Cave of Inky Night, and his song, "A Kitten's Tale," was a very fine performance. The Sprites of the Night, Masters R. Andrew, K. Atchison, W. Groves, and F- Luks, had all the appear-

ance of a band of mischievous '| elves, their dance grotesque and. song "Sprites of the-'Night," being very effective. Four little fairies Misses Nellie Atchison, Marion Ahierj Constance Miller

and R. Andrew, formed a dainty little band of attendants on Fairy Moonbeam, and sang a very ■ pretty chorus entitled, " Called by Magic Ring We Come." The umbrella dance by Mrs Black, theMisses W. B. Stewart, A. McCutcheon, and I. Macintosh again served to charm the audience, who received it with hearty ap-

plause. The chorus, consisting of Mesdames G. M. A. Ahier, C. F. Battson, A. T. Black, A. Henderson, O. Cambridge, H. North, E/ Moeller, Misses M."" Andrew, • M. Murray. N. . Clemow, L. Clement, L. Glasson, I. HurrelJ, A. McCutcheon, I. Macintosh, F. Rickit, V. W. Rickit. M. Schulze, W. B. Stewart, Messrs O. Price Owen, H. A. Burchell, G. Galloway, W. H. Johns, J. Milroy, T.

Mclnnes, E. Parker, S. Richards, * and A. W. White, gave an excel- - lent rendering of the following : " Strike the Gong and Sound the Cymbals," "Wave the Flags and Banners Gay," "Long Live the Emperor," "Sad and Mournful, Swiftly Home Returning." and grand finale, and their finished style and excellent harmony showed that considerable pains* must have been taken in attaining such a state of efficiency. Xhe overture, introduction, and instrumental prslude and numerous accompaniments were played by the orches- ,

tra, consisting of Miss A. Alexander, B. Alexander, G. Jones, V. F.Mandeno, A. McGivern, Messrs G. P. Amor, A. J. Blythe, E. Bedford, H. Y. Collins, F. J. Gilbert, J. Laurie and H. Lenehan, -and •'■' the Society may well be proud of the performance of its orchestral branch. To those responsible for the getting up of the operetta and for its appearance at Kihikihi Mrs G. M. A. Ahier (stagemanageress) Mr E. Moeller (conductor) and Mr A. G. Warburton * (secretary) considerable credit is due, and it is to be hoped that this performance will only be a v prelude to further successful ef-

forts. Valuable assistance in the matter of organisation was rendered by Mesdames Henderson and Moeller and Messrs Mclnnes and Stewart. The operetta will be staged for the last time at Otorohanga to-morrow evening.