"RIP VAN WINKLE”

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1929, Page 3

"RIP VAN WINKLE”

. v A. SUCCESSFUL CLOSING.. The opera season of three .nights closed, last evening to. another crowd,edt house.. As before/the performance was on a very high level, and all dori- .. cerhed tinder . the direction of Mrs Staveley, the producer,, deserve the greatest credit. Those who saw the - presentation, last night described it as hihc-hless arid, equal to- the best standard} in amateur productions; _ The aud- . dgiteri enjoyed, the. ispecial treat pro-. ' vidirdf itEe furi story ofthe opera' beirig and heartily applauded.. When thin, curtain, fell- there were rounds: ofapplause, and. many presents for the perfibrihets- were; handed up to the stages • ...' ' Before the singing, of the National' Anthem, the Revd. Nelson-Wright; Mifcari of. All Saints. Churchy, took* tlie: opportunity of thinking Mrs Staveley. •ndr the.- company for the splendid ehtertairiment given;,, and the public for. the very liberal, mariner in. which the-.; production had been supported. , in. 1 referring to-the-great and arduohsJ task Mrs Staveley had performed In j producing so - magnificent a production in such lavish detail, he felt he could heartily congratulate the lady on a. decided triumph. On behalf of the. Church people he thanked her spec-| 'tally, for the benefit Would be a substantial one', iile gross receipts lb- j 'date fad been- £2Bo’ which was a testimony in - itself to the success of the production. Mr Wright felt he could, not refer adequately to all the individual performers who had .been before the footlights, but he wanted to refer to sorite of the unseen workers who hadbeen responsible for valued services in necessary ways. Among others he referred to Mr R‘. Lynri who had been jeisjSonsible for the stage; craft and' thefine settings they Had seen. Mr J'. Meriziesyas scenic artist had done work which spoke for itself, and they were' very grateful to those gentlemen. Their business manager had been the right man. in the- right/ place- while in- Miss Gwen Jacobs they had a talented young; pianiste who had done great service; Before concluding the Vicar invited Mrs Staveley to the stage, and presented' Her with a leather hound vdLume of photographs. of the Company suitably iii'scribed', expressing the appreciation arid esteem of the Church atithorities fOr the manner in which. Hie production had' been carried out. Bouridk Of applause arid" hearty cheers greeted tfei; presentation. Bfir 0. Bf. Ooulsph, on behalf of BCrs StAVelfejr, expressed' thank's to the Vichr for the preiesntatibn and the eulogies prikkrid'. Mr Coulson said' he was able fM Speatf with inside, knowledge of the Work of Mrs-Staveley; and'he could ehdhrfe all that fend' been' said about the arduous. task performed in b'rgariising and producing sucli a venture oh the Steale presented'.'. The success achiev-

ed' was a great tribute to the inherit inti 1 ability of Mrs Staveley, who had many successes to Her credit in the past', but! probably no greater triumph than the present.