OPERA AND DRAMA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 183, 20 August 1937, Page 6

OPERA AND DRAMA

Amateur Interest Growing in Dominion :j NEW OPERATIC SOCIETIES / ■■ "» In recent yeara the growing iuterest in all forms of drama, and particularly in the one-act play, has been noticeable. The appeal of stage productions by- amateur players has been revived as a result of this, and the staging of plays has again taken a prominent part in the life of even the smallest communities. Evidence of this wave of interest is found in the number of new dramatic organisations wliich are coining into being all over New Zealand. Botb the Eltham Operatic Society and the Gisborne Amateur Operatic Society have been revived during the last few weeks. Breaking a silence of nine years of quiescence, the Gisborne Amateur Operatic Society will produce in Noveiuber tlie 1'amous musical play. success "Rio Rita," a tale of the Mexican border, full of comedy, solo and chorus work, and marked by outstanding dauce attractions. This play was staged recently by the Invercargill society, with substantial success, and other productions of "Rio Rita'' scheduled for this year are those of the Hamilton society in Septeniber and of the Palmerston North society in October. "llio Rita'-' was one of the trio of "smash hits" with which the late Florenz Zeigi'eld reestabiished his leadership in the producing world of New -York, after a period during which his position was cballenged by rivaJ producers. With "Wlioo'pee" and "llose Marie", the other two shows of the trio, "Rio Rita" is rated among the finest musical plays written in recent years. The last oceasion 011 which the (gisborne society produeed a play was in' 1928 when, "The Belle of New York" scored a solid success. A decision to revive Eltham Operatic &oeiety with a play, "The Oingalee,"' was made at a xneeting at Eltham recently. There wag- an attendance of about 30 prospective members and a gratifying keenness was displayed. It is expected in dramatic circles in Taranaki that now the Eltham society, the earlier career of which was very successful, has been revived, other towns in Taranaki will foliow tlie lead.