“RIP VAN WINKLE”

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1929, Page 3

“RIP VAN WINKLE”

A SPLENDID PRODUCTION. Hokitika amateurs under the., sole of Mrs W. 'fitaveley, - scored another pronounced success at the Princess Theatre last night with the staging of,-Planquette’s comic opera “Hip . Van Winkle.” The opera is a lengthy one, and histrionically and musically makes considerable on all concerned.. TJje production was done in capital style, and from what r ever, angle it is viewed, reflects the .greatest credit on all instrumental in arriving at so splendid, an aggregate., result)There was a capital attendance, .and; from the outset the closest attention was centred in the stage work. ' During the first act a curious, if not surprised, audierice, followed the action rof fthe, play f with tall eyes and earyft; In .the r second. act with • its unusual setting, the merits pf the performshcb were 4 more (filly realised, the-third act;’ the audience wetaijustdrevelling in the unexpected treat provided by the splendid entertainment. _■ The success indeed was pronounced. ‘ A very long caste was involved iff', the production, which carried with it an amount of detail which must have in-, .volved a great task for the talented producer. Mrs Staveley.,- V deserves the

greatest credit - and highest praise for

the success attending her effort. Cerr tainly there was excellent rmaterial to work upon, and there ihust have been ready co-operation and application on i. the part of the performers, but the whole setting and production, arid the finish with which the scenes were carried through, rested with the producer. It was a highly creditable; production from every point of view. The large caste was filled most /evenly. Mr Arnold Perry gave an outstanding presentation of the ne’er-do-well Rip Van Winkle. Carefree but with a knowledge of hoards of h.uden wealth in the neighbouring mountains, he acted with happy abandon. The music of course had the best of treatment, and though affected by a cold, his vocal numbers were always a charm in themselves. Jn the scene with the gpod-lopking demons he ■ assumed tjie necessary air ’of terrorj . but in the final scene after his long sleep of twenty years, the pathetic figure he made of poor, desolated and unrecognised Rip was hjs special triumph. The pathos introduced was iii ample balance to the whole picture, and the characterisation was, capital. Mr Jim Stop forth was the villain of the piece, one Derrick yon Slou.s, who seeks to grasp all, orily to fail in the end,. A consistent presentation was given of a character necessary for the

interpretation of the story. Mr Sid Brooks was happily placed as Peter "*■ -Dunk, -.the . Burgomaster. He bnfe J 'Hiri)self. : ; with.. hecomingmjen,. even, rind altogether made

much ,of the character along traditional f fines.. B.ulpin.. was. the love■'pick:poet; 'And did capitally' in all his • scenes. Quite a good presentation was piade by Mr Hugh Preston of the smart British officer who carried all before bin? when the ladies were present. Mr Max Coulson who had to double two parts, first the old inn-keeper, and second the son of the inn-keeper, was ■in '.capital form, and did his usual pbnsis]tepfc worh in characterisation. : JJp w.as responsible, for much of • the hyjm9.ur 9.f the eypning, and that' responsibility yas handled successfully. Mr Cecil Wright .appeared tp adyan- ' tage as little Hans grown pp, and sang - - very acceptably. . Mrs Arnold Perry made a charming Gretchen, and later am equally charm- ' irig Alice. Her musical numbers pleased greatly, and her. acting was commendable. Her bright , and pleasing stage presence fitted well into the general scheme 'of the evening’s success. Miss An;oe Duff made the part,of Katrina quite her pwn, and acted and Sang to ,the special delight of all. In the second .act where Qaptain Hudson .(Miss Rita Morgan) and his lieutenants (Miss Mary Bald apd Miss Charlotte

sy)ig) are with the ghosts of lost anil-

drsi the music roused the audience to a high :pitch °f The ■ three

delighted, and in the unusual .setting, one of the best scenes of the

.evening respited. The lillipptians. per- • for/ped veil those taking parts being ''Corn Lynn, Joyce Andrews, Connie .• ; i j J3.tiaines and Betty Brooks. (Other minor characters were well and consistm ently taken by Misses Alva McTntosh, s£Betty Yaw-all, Dliye Ohosterman, Hazvel Perry. Special mention should be ’’Wade of the smart postman,‘depicted .by Miss Netta' Coulson. Dancing feat- .. ures were introduced. by Misses A. McIntosh, Stevenson and Jacobs, while Miss Helen Staveley’s solo dance as the Rhine Pay, yas a feature in the ... mountain scene. . The .chorus. was admirable, and as- .. sisted greatly with the success of the .( yocal efforts.. The staging and .dress-' 3?eive .V The three ‘acts, were dressed ppoat becomingly, while the scenery and ‘ setting left little to be .desired. The f- lighting, hop. was another feature of importance very .well done. Indeed, the whole .stage arrangements left little ijftp be desired. Mr R. Lynn was the { stage Imgnager, and had with him Mr

■ J. Mepgies, ycenic artist, and Messrs jap4 O’Brien, electricians. AH \rendered meritorious service, the scenes {/produced being both appropriate and {striking. The costumes were designed ; Iby Mrs Staveley, while Mrs Nelson • Weight had responsible duties to .attend tp .as Mjs.tress of the Wardrobe. Finally, praise .and .credit must be givL|“/©n to, the .orchestra, which had a speclijil tash .set it, and cajpe through with' ’’ 'jycrv satisfactory results. * The whole ejffprt of the entire Company was jno?t commendable and praiseworthy, apd a Hippy exemplification of the latent