AMATEUR ACTIVITIES.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18619, 23 April 1932, Page 16 (Supplement)

AMATEUR ACTIVITIES.

Always Enthusiastic and Progressive. ‘‘The Hamilton amateurs, always enthusiastic and progressive, are holding their annual. meeting already,” said the Wellington Dominion last week. Which bears out my recent contention that the Operatic Society has done much to put Hamilton "on the map.” Auckland Operatlo Society. I understand that the Auckland Operatic Society Is finding it difficult to choose an opera for this season’s production. "Les Cloches de Cornevllle" has been suggested. The society’s heavy loss on "The Greek Slave” last season means that extra care will have to be taken this yekr, “Dry Rot” at Wellington. "Dry Rot” is the title of the Victoria College (Wellington) extravaganza, to be produced in May. Instead of one show three short ones will be performed. "Dry Rot," which will be a skit on Wellington's new dock, will contain much witty dialogue and many tuneful melodies. “Hoax and Coax" will have a political flavour, and will boast an excellent opening chorus. The third offering, “Souled," Is a short skit on present-day psychology and the teachers thereof, has no songs, but is in many respects the best play of all. I Shakospearoan Festival at Wellington. An exceptional programme In commemoration of Shakespeare's birthday will be presented at Wellington to-night, in the presence of Her Excellency the Lady Bledisloe. Mr Clement May, who is direoting the festival, has brought together an excellent combination of artists. The programme will include scenes from grand opera, including the cell scene from Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet” and scenes from "Othello.” The drama will be represented in scenes from "Henry VIII.,” "Romeo and Juliet” and "The Taming of the Shrew." Two gorgeous ballets will be presented depicting • the stately court dances In the time of Queen Elizabeth, and the delightful rural dances from Henry VIII. There will also be part singing and solos.

The orchestra will be heard (n Coleridge Taylor’s line arrangement of incidental music from “Othello,” and in the delightful Nell Gwynn dances. The proceeds will be devoted to the Mayor’s Unemployment Fund. Amateurs’ Tragic Week. The leading man of the Reading Amateur Dramatic Society, Mr Charles 11. Uzell, after playing the last scene of “The Constant Nymph" at the Reading Court County Theatre, in which he had to act the part of a man at his lover's death-bed, rushed to a nursing home where his wife was dying (says a London paper) She passed away a few minutes later. Mr Uzell’s tragic experience came at the end of a week during which disaster has fallen heavily upon the Reading amateurs. Two other members of the company lost relatives bydeath during the week. On Tuesday the death occurred of Mr G. Plumb, father of Miss Plumb, who, as the daughter of Sanger in the play, has to announce the death of her father.

The following day Mrs Roberts, mother of another member of tho company, died. Mr Uzell behaved with g’.’cat courage, for when the curtain was rung down after the second act of the play, he learned that his wife had suffered a relapse.

Ho decided that he must continue the performance, and it- was after leaving the death-bed of Tessa, “The Constant Nymph," that he made a dasli for (lie nursing homo.

Other Activities. The Dunedin amateurs are busily rehearsing “The Arcadians." » • • a Miss Betty Syrrs, a member of the Hamilton Operatic Society, has commenced Hit 1 leaching of dancing at To Awamutu. "The Geisha,” “A Country Girl" and “The Toreador" are, among Iho works under consider \ ion by the Masterlon operatic Society: a committee is to select a suitable piece.