“OUR MISS GIBBS”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 269, 14 November 1945, Page 3

“OUR MISS GIBBS”

SECOND PORTION OF SEASON BEGUN

MDIUNCES ARE PLEASED A talented cast of players from the Wanganui Musical and Dramatic Society began the second half of the sixnight season of “Our Miss Gibbs” in the Opera House last night. There was a large audience and it responded well to the play, enjoying its humour, music and plot. The season will be continued to-night and will end tomorrow night. Thelma Dandy, cast in the title role “Our Miss Gibbs,” again played realistically, contirming that she is a distinct find for the society. Others who will be heard of in the future amateur theatrical work in the city are Penrhyn Hutton, playing the part of “Lady Betty” Jimmie Mack ("Timothy Gibbs"), Colin Peffers (“Hon. Hughie Pierrcpont"), Alan Scott (“Lord Enysford”), Ngaire Holland (cast as a telephone girl and "Miss Beauclere”), Olive Holland (“Madame Jeanne”), Lionel Gillman (a taxi cabbie), Douglas Sherriff (“Mr. Toplady"), Don Gordon ("Slithers"), and Dan McLeod (cast as a messenger boy). Two others of the young players who have been given the part of Irish girls—Kathleen Butler and Raie Barnett—will have bigger parts to • play in any future productions. The players mentioned above are from the younger members of a typically young cast. There is a capable blend of older players in “Our Miss Gibbs," but it is not large. Principals and chorus have been drawn mainly from the city’s younger set, and that' augurs well for the future. There are in the chorus a number of players who would catch the eye of any casting director. The six “Dudes," for instance—John Aves, Norman Davidson, Grant Toop, Bob Adams, Frank McCarten and Ray Martin—will furnish some of the principals for future plays. The same applies to those lively young bridesmaids June Hansel, Betty Symes, Shirley Allom, Shirley Sweeney, Beatrice Chesswas and Fayette Rountree. There is talent there which only needs the part and the encouragement to bring joy and happiness to many hundreds of theatre lovers in Wanganui. A casting director, too, would feel encouraged by the stage appearance of a number of the mannequins Noeline Guthrie, Rosanna Garrick, Lois Peters, Betty Barnard. Patricia Elliott and Bubbles Ives. Indicative of the co-operation forthcoming for the society In its staging of “Our Miss Gibbs” i s the fact that McGruer’s, Limited, supplied the costumes each night for the mannequin parade.

Revival of musical comedy is a big task. “Our Miss Gibbs" has contributed materially to that task, and the credit for that is due, in the main, to a young and enthusiastic cast in the hands of a talented producer (Eva Moore) and with an experienced and capable musical director, Mrs. C. I. Spillane.