A BRILLIANT SCENE IN THE ORIGINAL TWO-ACT COMEDY OPERA “MARAMA,” OR “THE MERE AND THE MAORI MAID,” WHICH WAS SUCCESSFULLY STAGED FOR THE FIRST TIME BY THE HASTINGS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY ON NOVEMBER 16, 17 AND 18. “Marama,” the words of which are by Mr. H. S. B. Ribbands, and the music by Mr. Archie Don, is written as a comedy opera, and, to use the author’s own words, “is primarily and finally a New Zealand opera, the first of its kind, and is intended to depict, with musical adornment, the everyday life of some of the inhabitants of these happy islands.” It is a story wherein the actors are everyday persons, picnicking on the beach near Auckland, or sight-seeing near Rotorua. The opera was produced under the stage dirction of Mr. Leon Fail, while the orchestra was conducted by the composer, Mr. A. R. Don. A TYPICAL MAORI VILLAGE PORTRAYED IN “MARAMA,” A BRIGHT NEW ZEALAND COMEDY OPERA, THE INITIAL PERFORMANCE OF WHICH WAS GIVEN LAST MONTH BY THE HASTINGS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY AT THE MUNICIPAL THEATRE, HASTINGS. The production from start to finish is brimful of bright, haunting melodies, artistic ballets, poi dances, and spectacular groupings. The whole constitution of the opera—music, book and setting—breathes the spirit of the young nation, typifying the blending of the Maori with the Pakeha, in complete consonance, and the awakening of a national patriotism.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1597, 2 December 1920, Page 20

A BRILLIANT SCENE IN THE ORIGINAL TWO-ACT COMEDY OPERA “MARAMA,” OR “THE MERE AND THE MAORI MAID,” WHICH WAS SUCCESSFULLY STAGED FOR THE FIRST TIME BY THE HASTINGS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY ON NOVEMBER 16, 17 AND 18. “Marama,” the words of which are by Mr. H. S. B. Ribbands, and the music by Mr. Archie Don, is written as a comedy opera, and, to use the author’s own words, “is primarily and finally a New Zealand opera, the first of its kind, and is intended to depict, with musical adornment, the everyday life of some of the inhabitants of these happy islands.” It is a story wherein the actors are everyday persons, picnicking on the beach near Auckland, or sight-seeing near Rotorua. The opera was produced under the stage dirction of Mr. Leon Fail, while the orchestra was conducted by the composer, Mr. A. R. Don.

A TYPICAL MAORI VILLAGE PORTRAYED IN “MARAMA,” A BRIGHT NEW ZEALAND COMEDY OPERA, THE INITIAL PERFORMANCE OF WHICH WAS GIVEN LAST MONTH BY THE HASTINGS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY AT THE MUNICIPAL THEATRE, HASTINGS. The production from start to finish is brimful of bright, haunting melodies, artistic ballets, poi dances, and spectacular groupings. The whole constitution of the opera—music, book and setting—breathes the spirit of the young nation, typifying the blending of the Maori with the Pakeha, in complete consonance, and the awakening of a national patriotism.