WANGANUI SOCIETY IS TO STAGE THE "VAGABOND KING"

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 January 1947, Page 4

WANGANUI SOCIETY IS TO STAGE THE "VAGABOND KING"

ATTENDANCE AT LAST PRODUCTION A RECORD Some 4600 people saw the presentation of “A Country Girl," by the Wanganui Musical and Dramatic Society last November. This was a record attendance for a production of this type in Wanganui, and the encouragement the society has been given by the public ha s decided the committee to stage "A Vagabond King" js its next production. towards th e end of April, or at the beginning of May. “The finances of ‘A Country Girl’ were satisfactory," said the honorary treasurer (Mr. W. D. Young) last night. He said that the committee felt that something more than the ordinary was due to the public for its wonderful support, which materialised so fully in the second week of the last show. The first v;eek gave rise t 0 some anxiety to those responsible for the finances, but in the second week the public lesponded tn no uncertain manner.

Mr. Young felt confident that “A Vagabond King" could be successfully staged in Wanganui. It would be a much more expensive show and it remained to be seen how the public would react to an intention to do even better than in the past. “The Student Prince," staged by the J. C. Williamson Company, had done well in Wanganui, and “The Vagabond King” was of the same type. The society was prepared to go to the extra expense to stage such a play in the hope that it would be as well supported as the lighter types of plays. He said that those qualified to judge were of opinion that the talent was available in Wanganui to cast “A Vagabond King.” There was sufficient chorus strength to build on, and the principal., the society felt sure, could be found to handle the heavy singing parts. Rehearsals are to begin early next month.