‘SALLY’ SEASON CLOSES

Evening Star, Issue 21743, 11 June 1934, Page 5

‘SALLY’ SEASON CLOSES

\ PROFIT OF £SOO The Dunedin Operatic and Dramatic Society has every reason to be proud of the great success which was achieved by the presentation of Jerome Kern’s great musical comedy ‘ Sally ’ in His Majesty’s Theatre. Again on Saturday night, when the ‘ Sally ’ season [was brought to a close, the theatre was filled to capacity and hundreds were unable to gain admission. At the conclusion of the performance, which was again voted a delightful and creditable show, Mr W.- F. Sligo, vice-president of the society, apologised for the absence of the president Mr F. W. Cleavin) and announced that •* Sally * had proved to he the biggest money-taker the society had ever _ experienced. Members ■of the society felt that it was a sign of the times pnd not so much a tribute to the standard of the performance. They had succeeded in recording a handsome profit, and the public could be assured of a bigger and brighter show' next time the society entered the field of entertainments. In ‘the society’s presentation of ‘Sally,’ he thought that those responsible were to be highly commended. He congratulated the _ committee of the society for its initiative and enterprise. It was a new committee and it had had the unenviable task of choosing a show in the face of great difficuluties. The society had lost its musical director (Mr J. KirkBunmand), Mr L. J. Spence, and Mr Reg Tapley. It was a black outlook, indeed, and only with the harmonious support of the remaining members could the society proceed with another show. In Mr Stan Lawson, the society had a very capable and exSeritncejl .wbije. <L Cferk *■—■ I ~r~i ‘ ■

had proved himself to be a most popular and hard-working musical director. Amid applause, and in answer to repeated requests for every member of the happy gathering on the stage, Mr Clark acknowledged the approval of the audience. Mr Sligo also called upon Miss Rosetta Powell, the ballet mistress, who he said, had been associated with ten other productions in the same capacity, but who was making her first appearance op the stage." In commenting on the work of Mr Angus Gorrie, stage manager, he said that to him was due 50 per cent, of the success of the show. The back stage staff had worked excellently under his direction. The society also had to thank the front-of-house staff, which had had the unenviable task of convincing anxious patrons at the matinees that the theatre could not seat twice its capacity. Another member of the managerial staff deserving commendation was Mr Vince Stap, stag© technician, who also assisted with the scenery, Messrs Stan Lawson and Angus Gorrie replied on behalf of the managerial staff, and during their speeches streamers and confetti were released to add to the highly colourful and merry scene upon the stage, and all the performers were inundated with bouquets and gifts. A memorable performance was brought to a close by the participation of the audience in the entrancing chorus ‘ Silver Lining.’ Inquiries this morning revealed that ‘ Sally ’ returned the society a profit in ' the vicinity of £SOO. This is in marked contrast to the result of the society’s last production ‘ Les Cloches de Cornville ’ which recorded a loss of £l5O. ‘ Sally ’ was the eleventh production staged by the society and up to this effort the society had just been able to pay its way.