BIGGER AUDIENCES ARE ATTENDING “RUNAWAY GIRL” MUSICAL

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 May 1949, Page 6

BIGGER AUDIENCES ARE ATTENDING “RUNAWAY GIRL” MUSICAL

The "Runaway Girl" musical comedy, presented by the Wanganui Musical and Dramatic Society, was

staged a third time at the Opera House last night. It was a bright and breezy show and the chorus worn was particularly good represented well in the numbers and the musical director (Mr. E. O. Schnuck). There is no douot that the chorus in "A Runaway Girl" is a feature othe production. The applause which it received on Wednesday night ana again last night was indicative, too, tnat the public has appreciated the marked use in volume and general improvement. Bigger and appreciative audiences are attending as the season progresses.

Bright scenes nave imparted to the production a colourful background, which, ot itself, is appealing. The producers, Alexia Rankin, starting wiih just the script to work on, has imparled to the ensembles a modern touch, introducing the bright, rnytnnnc movement and gayely so necessary in a modern show. And the members of the chorus have blended into those ensembles naturally, without the worrying look so often encountered in an amateur production, wherein the chorus members seem to be looking down al their feet in serious nioou, instead of looking up and smiling. It is a .cheerful chorus, the members of which have devoted a great deal of time to rehearsals. Ladies of the chorus are: Theresa Anderson, Marie Bellringer, Maureen Cargill, Jean Chesswas, Sylvia Clark, Nola Denman, Patricia Dobbs, Pauline Elliott, Audrey Gleeson, Shirley Goss, Betty Hodge, Edith Hurley, Peggy Lints, Audrey Meyers, Jane. Murchie, Pamela prebble, ShirleyRyan, Betty Scanlon, Betty M. Stem, Jean Underwood, Joan Wilkinson and Shirley Wilson.

Gentlemen of the chorus: Peter Baddeley, Graham Cargill, Len Crawshaw, Bill Glassop, Alistair Hutchins, Bob London, Frank McCarten, Brian Russ and Tom Stirling. Members of the corps de ballet, members of the society who have been trained by George Allen, are. Merle Burbush, Mary Duigan, Margait Morgan, Natalie Sherman, Ngaire Sherman, Audrey Smith, Dawn Taylor and Rona Wilson. The ballets of “A Runaway Girl" Are outstanding. Last night’s audience, like those which had seen the show earlier, was greatly amused by the duet "Barcelona,” sung by “Brother Tamarina" (John D. Tizard) and "Carmenita” (Martha Sedgwick), in which "Tamarind" appears in a pinkish ballet frock. So amusing was his appearance that it was some minutes before the screaming laughter died away, and he was able to say, apropos of tonight's college ball, "Will anyone present me tomorrow night? ’ “A Runaway Girl” is to resume again next Tuesday and will be presented also on Wednesday and Thursday. Because of the length of the show it is necessary to start at a quarter to eight instead of eight o'clock. This will enable patrons to catch the trams.