“THE ARCADIANS” IS A PRETTY, LOVEABLE MUSICAL COMEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1949, Page 6

“THE ARCADIANS” IS A PRETTY, LOVEABLE MUSICAL COMEDY

THE ( AST: j Amaryllis Shirley Goss i St rephon John Dunlop Chrysaca . .. Shirley Smith Somina Nita Oldham I Astrophel Kelvin Patterson . # <All the above are Arcadians). Father Time Harry Jones James Smith Ray Stanford Simplicilas Raj Stanford Lady Barclay Shirley Kyan Bobbie Jimmie Mack Jack Meadows Brian Russ Sir George Paddock Will Thomson Eileen Cavanagh .. Pamela Prebble Mrs. Smith Beverley Jacobsen Percy Marsh Graham Palmei Heggic Fred Phillips Peter Doody Lionel Gillman SYNOPSIS OF SCENES: Act J ... Arcadia Act 2 Askwood Racecourse Act 3 Arcadian Restaurant set up in England “The Arcadians” is a pretty play, and the feature about the Wanganui Musical and Dramatic Society’s presentation of it- under the guidance of Alexia Rankin as producer and E. O. Schnack as musical director, is lhal more discoveries have been made among the younger members of lhe society. Five who come within that category, proving their ability in this production are: Nita Oldham, as “Sombra,” the “Maid of Arcady.’’ Pamela Prebble, as “Eileen Cavanagh,” the “Girl with a Brogue.” Ray Stanford, in the dual role of “James Smith,” a London caterer, and “Simplicitas,” the character he has been transformed into by the “Arcadians.” Beverley Jacobsen, as “Mrs. Smith.” Bi an Russ, as “Jack Meadow’s.” Nita Oldham has a pleasing voice. She sings her numbers and speaks her lines with an appealing emphasis and diction which goes to prove her ability to live the part. She is a “Maid of “Arcady,” who portrays all that is truthful and pure, and acts that part very realistically. It is when her simple outlook upon life, as lived in “Arcadia,” clashes with the less idealistic atmosphere of an everyday world that she is able to so clearly define the contrast—an idealistic maid trying to reconcile the truth and idealism of her own Arcadian world, with the flirtations, loves, jealousies, and mercenary influences of a world measured by social position and the necessary wealth that goes with it. Altogether a loveable interpretation of an “Arcadian” heroine. Her vocal numbers were popular last night- particularly “The Pipes of Pan are Calling,” “Arcady Is Ever Young,’’ and “My Heart Flies Homing.”

Pamela Prebble is indeed a discovery! She is still in her ’teens, and her portrayal of the pretty Irish girl who falls in love with “Jack Meadows” is really fine. Miss Prebble acts naturally, the roughishly desirable part, of the “Girl with a Brogue.” That brogue of hers is very realistic indeed and fits well into the theme. “The Girl with a Brogue,” sung by Miss Cavanagh and chorus, is one of the most appealing numbers in the score. So. too, is her number “Bring Me a Rose.’’ A bright future in stage work lies ahead of this player if she maintains the promise shown in this play.

Ray Stanford is a lively comedian, of pleasing voice and natural stage ability. His is a fairly hard part to play. It. can be said that if the dual part of “Smith” and “Simplicitas” is not. in good hands, the whole theme of the “Arcadians” would miss badly. But in Ray the society has found just the right, type for the part. He was best, perhaps in the second act, and probably in the final scenes. In the second act he is back in England with the “youth of Arcady” in his being, and all his old infatuation for women surging for expression. The funny part, of it is that his own wife falls in love with him. His musical numbers, “Sweet Simplicitas” and ““Somewhere” were well received last night. Beverley Jacobsen is another player who has risen to the occasion in this play. She has the difficult but important part of “Mrs. Smith,” who, while carrying on a flirtation with “Peter Doody,” the jockey, falls for her own husband. Beverley has acquitted herself well in other recent productions staged by the society, and giving her a bigger part in this play is a reward for her interest and ability. Brian Russ plays Ihe part of “Jack Meadows,” who, if the script, is read as scripts ought to be. is the hero of. the play. He sings pleasingly and his elocutionary ability is above the ordinary. Brian’s vocal number "Fickle Fortune,” and his duet with Pamela Prebble, “Charming Weather," were two of the hits of last night. Lionel Gillman makes a realistic, sad, pessimistic “Peter Doody.’’ He looks mournful, acts in mournful mood, and rises to the occasion in the vocal number “My Mol ter”—and that is mournful, too, typically in character of “Doody." Will Thomson, cast as the English aristocrat, “Sir George Paddock,’’ interprets his part with an Anthony Eden type of bearing, all to the advantage of the play. Shirley Smith acts naturally the part of “Chrysaea,” and she and Nita Oldham do really look like the twins the play meant them to be. All the other parts were played realistically last night. One of the outstanding vocal numbers was a duet Shirley Smith and Fred Phillips in “Oh, Do Step the Two Step.” Another was a quartette (Shirley Smith, Nita Oldham, John Dunlop, and Kelvin Patterson) in “The .Joy of Life.” Chorus work in “The Arcadians" is really good, particularly the male section of it. The singing serves Io emphasise the painstaking work by the musical director (Mr Schnack) and the long and patient duty of Doretta Kilner, the pianiste. The orchestra has been blended into the play with a true appreciation of its role, to lead and accompany, but. not to dominate. Four ballets have been pleasingly woven into the play by George Allen - the Garland ballet, Jockey ballot. Bubble ballet (in which balloons are used to good effect) and the Picadilly ballet. In addition, Dawn Taylor and George Allen are seen in a waltz number. which has about it a pleasing rhythm and delightful setting. Lighting effects by Frank Sayring are realistic. There is a touch of imaginative genius in the storm scene. One of the outstanding discoveries of the society is Cecil Cornish, the scenic artist. The scenes in this production, as in an earlier show, "A Runaway Girl,” are outstanding. Mr. Cornish is a great asset to a city like Wanganui, where such societies as this require the quick interpretation of an artist to capture realistic settings. It is said by great producers that half the hattie to make the characters live is the atmosphere on stage, the settings, and the scenes. Cecil Cornish has a great gift, in that direction, rivalling that of Boh F/jwell, whose brush has served this same society so well in days gone by.