NAPIER AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 31, 5 August 1893, Page 62

NAPIER AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY.

COMEDY and drama seemed the loftiest flights of the Napier amateurs for many years. Then they became nerved for greater achievements, and ‘Tria 1 by Jury’ was staged. At that time no Amateur Operatic Society was in existence. The Society inaugurated its career with * The Sorcerer,’ one of the earliest efforts of

that happy collaboration of crisp wit and flowing melody— Gilbert and Sullivan. That opera drew crowded houses for three nights. The admirable orchestral work and the concerted vocal music were the strong factors of the produc' tion. Perhaps to the efforts of Miss Hitchings(who showed an intelligent interest and took a leading part), and Mr Keith Wilson the formation of the Society was due. Amongst the principals on that occasion were the Messrs Kennedy, Frank, C.D., and J.R , Finch, J. R. Simpson, and Misses Keep and Roy. It seemed, however, that with this performance the work of the Society practically ceased. The members rested on their oars for a long time, and what is locally known as the old Society passed out of existence. In those days Mr J. Stevens, a great musical enthusiast, conducted, and Mr H. G. Spackman led the orchestra.

With the advent of new talent, the amateurs once more bestirred themselves, and formed the present Operatic Society. In March, 1889, they staged their first piece, ‘ The Mikado.’ Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas, for the most part, seem to be especially adapted for amateur scope. Great preparations were made for this production, and with the small theatre-going population in their midst, it speaks well for the Society when it is stated that ‘The Mikado’ ran for six nights, the receipts being £250, at ordinary prices of admission. Mr W. H. Pritchard as Ko Ko was one of the successes of the performance. This gentleman—who just recently exhibited some of his paintings on chamois leather before Her Majesty the Queen — was on a holiday visit to Maoriland, and gave the Napier amateurs the benefit of his experience. The opera could not have been better staged and dressed by Messrs Williamson and Garner’s company. Mr Pritchard painted the fine courtyard scene in the first act, and Mrs Nicholls was responsible for the scenery and beautiful lake views with Fusiyama in the distance, which formed the setting of the second act. Mr A. F. Kennedy took the part of the Mikado; Mr W. P. Finch, Nanki Poo; Mr H. Aplin, Pooh Bah ; and Mr S. R. Kennedy, Pish Tush. Miss Hitchings played Katisha ; Mrs Sheath, Yum Yum; Miss

Roy, Pitti Sing ; and Miss Bendell, Peep-80. Mr A. P. Sheath conducted, while the stage management was in the hands of Mr Pritchard. The Society was congratulated on all sides for the general excellence of its performance. It was no doubt the great success achieved in * The Mikado ’ that prompted the Society to essay the representation of another opera by the same talented musician md lively librettist. ‘ lolanthe ’ was played in November,

1889. This time Mr A. Levin attended to the stage management, Mr Shea’.h conducted, and Mr A. Herman led the orchestra. The result was highly satisfactory, the piece running for six nights, the receipts amounting to £220. The mounting and scenery, as before, fell but little short of the professional

standard. Phyllis was entrusted to Mrs Sheath, who portrayed the part in a charmingly piquant manner. Miss Hitchings made a magnificent Queen of the Fairies, and her acting was really high class. Miss Rose Bell was very

successful as lolanthe. Mr Frank Kennedy as the Lord Chancellor and Mr C. D. Kennedy as Strephon shared in the honour of that production. The Earl of Mountararat was played by Mr John Holt, Earl Tolloiler by Mr A R. Nicholls, and Private Willis by Mr C. Roberts. In October, 1890, Planquette’s ‘Rip Van Winkle’ was staged under the management of Mr A. Levi, and conductorship of Mr S. R. Kennedy. ‘ Rip ’ was equally as success-

ful as its Gilbertian forerunners. In this piece the acting strength of the Society was given full play. It ran for six nights, and from a financial point of view brought more money into the exchequer than any opera previously attempted. The receipts were £340. The expense in staging this opera was heavy, but fortunately the Society came out on the right side. The title role was played by Mr A. F. Kennedy. Good as was his Mikado and Lord Chancellor, he surpassed himself as Washington Irving’s hero. Mr J. G. Swan made bis appearance in opera in this piece, taking the part of Nick Vedder. His performance was a very clever one, and he treated theatre goers to a most humorous piece of character acting. Miss J. Levi was suitably cast as Gretchen, and as Alice in the third act, and Miss Hitchings appeared at Katrina. Other parts were creditably taken by Mr C. D. Kennedy (Derrick), Mr H. Aplin (Burgomaster), Mr A. R. Nicholls (Knickerbocker), and Mr P. Hume (Captain Rowley). In this opera Mr Harry Hall, son of ‘Johnny ’ Hall, was specially engaged to play the Grblin Steward.

After this, in March, 1891, ‘ lolanthe ’ and ‘ The Mikado were revived. The Napier Amateur Operatic Society was the first amateur society in the colony to produce two operas in one week. The venture, financially, proved very satisfactory, £230 being taken in five nights. Mr Sheath conducted and Mr Pritchard stage-managed 'The Mikado,’ and Mr Levi superintended the reproduction of ‘lolanthe.’ In November of the same year, ‘Madame Favart ’ was staged, an opera comique in three acts (Offenbach), English adaptation by H. B. Farnie. It ran for six nights, the takings totalling £2BO. The honours of the opera fell on Mr J. G. Swan, whose Marquis de Pontsable was generally admitted to be the most artistic performance he bad up to that time given. Mrs Sheath was cast as Madame Favart, and Mr E. T. Sayers made his first appearance amongst the Napier amateurs as Charles Favart. Other parts were taken by Messrs C. D. Kennedy, C. Roberts, A. Kennedy, and Von Sturmer, and Misses Hitchings, Levi, and Guy. The chorus was a very powerful one, while the Grand March of the Vivandieres and soldiers at

the camp of the Mareschal Saxe at Fontenoy, was encored every night. Mr Sheath conducted, and Mr Levi received a presentation from the company for his stage management. * Patience ’ was to be the next production of the Society, and the opera was put into rehearsal. However, just about that time the tour of Mr Williamson's Opera Company through New Zealand prevented the amateurs from proceeding with the piece. After a lapse of several months it was resolved to revive ‘ Rip Van Winkle,’ played in June, 1893, and this has been the latest performance of the Society. The cast was altogether a new one. The opera, though it had previously run several nights, was very well received. This was a five nights’ season, the takings amounting to £230. Mr W. P. Finch conducted, and Mr

J. G. Swan acted as stage manager. Mr Swan, it appears, was the Alpha and Omega of the opera. In addition to the responsible duties of stage manager, he played the title r6le three nights, and on the other two nights of the season resumed his old part of Nick Vedder, while Mr A. F. Kennedy (who came down from Gisborne specially) played Rip. No previous stage management has been so popular. The whole company appeared a ‘ happy party ’ —in fact, the rehearsals generally were so pleasant to the members that- they were sorry when the • Rip ’ season was over. Performers, both principals and chorus, worked in such accord that there could be no other result but that of success in the production of the opera. Mrs Sheath appeared as Gretchen, Miss Hitchings as Katrina ; Miss Battle—a promising amateur—as Alice ; Mr Harry Swan (Nick Vedder alternate nights) ; Mr Deane as the Burgomaster ; Mr D. A. Sturrock as Derrick ; Mr Jack Hughes as the Goblin Steward : Mr A. Sidey as Captain Rowley ; Mr John Holt as Knickerbocker ; and Mr R. Percy as Lieutenant Hans. The excellent choruses and orchestral work formed a prominent feature of the opera. Mr Weir, the well-known Christchurch tenor, was specially engaged for the part of the First Lieutenant, and his • Pipe ’ solo was encored every night. The Society was offered sufficient inducement to perform at Hastings. Mrs Sheathheresangthe* Pipe’ song, in which she fairly ‘ brought down the house.’