“IOLANTHE.”

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9138, 6 May 1908, Page 4

“IOLANTHE.”

The Fe-ilding amateurs who pxe-seci-ed “lolanthe” at Martou Opera H - > last evening are to be cong l:-- 'd ou a very successful peri. ; , iiuce. There was a good house and the audience was enthusiastic, thus making the players feel at home. The chief parts were all irt capable hands, though the Lord. Chancellor (Mr Maoedo) was in a class by himself and showed real, capacity, both in singing and acting. Unlike many amateurs the words of J his songs were all clearly audibleand his chief efforts “When I Went to the Bar” and the patter song, received well-deserved encores. Of the other chief actors “lolanthe” (Miss Haybittle), the Queen of theFairies (Mrs Walker), Phyllis (Miss Luxmoore), and Sfcrephon (Mr Tausley) all distinguished themselves and received their meed of applause. The Queen of the Fairies had a beautiful voice and a dignified and gracious presence, and filled her part extremely well. Miss Luxmoore as Phyllis was "a dainty shepherdess and showed little trace of the amateur. lolanthe was particularly successful in the song in which she pleads with the Lord Chancellor for her son. Strephon had a pleasant voice and filled his role with suc-G-335. ' Messrs Worsfold and Jackson, as the Earls, filled difficult parts not unsuccessfully. The chorus of fairies and Peers was the weakest spot in the’entertainment, the Peers especially showing - a lack of tone and balance in their singing. The orchestra gave a good rendering of the incidental music and the stage management showed not the slightest hitch. The receipts amounted to £24 which should, we hope, be sufficient to liquidate all expenses and encourage the Dramatic Club to return to Marton on future occasions.