THE NEXT MUSICAL COMEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 107, 8 May 1934, Page 4

THE NEXT MUSICAL COMEDY

Sir, —“Theatricus” makes an interesting suggestion in your issue of the 7th. inst., re the. next musical comeay to be produced by the Amateur Alusical Society, i.e., ‘‘Les Cloches de Corneville.” I am wondering if ‘‘Theatricus” may have been misled by your article in Saturday’s issue. Over the period of thirteen or fourteen years the successful productions have been such catchy operas as “Floradora,” “Our Alisa Gibbs,’’ “A Country Girl” and “Cingalee.” Your article stated that a success had been made with Gilbert and Sullivan operas but as an old member I doubted if your figures wore correct, and, on mak- . ing enquiries, i found that you had inadvertently transposed the receipts and expenditure of “The Yeomen of the Guard,” which showed a loss of £146, not a profit, and the small profit of “The Pirates of Penzance” was obtained by including members’ subscription fees in the receipt column—the actual running of the performance showed a small loss. I think, sir, Wanganui theatregoers have definitely declared through the box office that they require light, bright, catchy musical comedies, with plenty of chorus and ballet numbers and with comedy predominating, and, until such time as the membership of the society is iarge enough to fill the theatre, or the bank balance is big enough to stand a loss, they will be well advised to present such musical comedies. The music-lovers who appreciate Gilbert and Sullivan and such operas as “Veronique” and “Les Cloches de Corncville” number about five hundred in Wanganui, whereas the need is to cater to the tastes of five thousand. Such plays as “The Bell of New York,” “So Long Letty, ” “The Cabaret Girl,” “The Messenger Boy,” ‘The Runaway Girl” would, I feel sure, prove more popular and payable. I am, etc., “ANTI-HIGHBROW.” Wanganui, May 7, 1934.