AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 149, 14 September 1927, Page 15

AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY

“LA MASCOTTE” ON SATURDAY The committee of the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society invited Mr. Reginald Long, who is giving a helping hand in its production of “La Mascotte,” to give his views on its organisation with out sparing feelings. His reply should be interesting to the people of Auckland: “Gentlemen, you have given me a very leading question to answer, and only the knowledge of your own ability to defend anything I might say that was not complimentary to your amateur society could have given you the

courage to let me answer you publicly —but there it is. I can only compliment you, I can’t find a single thing to criticise, which is most annoying to a professional dealing with amateurs: it rather takes the wind out of my sails, as it were. When I first learned that you were producing ‘La Mascotte,’ I was afraid that your selection was a little too ambitious. Hitherto you have produced what I call ‘surefire,’ ‘productiom-proof’ musical comedies in ‘San Toy,’ ‘Our Miss Gibbs,* ‘Arcadians,’ etc. To a large extent no one could help being successful with these musical plays’. Of your two locally-written shows I cannot say much except that I understand the material was brilliant, and again there was little doubt of success. But in regard to ‘La Mascotte’ you set yourself a difficult task. You left yourself open to severe comparison with brilliant artists such as Nellie Stewart, Maggie Moore. Florrie Young, Wallace Brownlow, Charles Riley, George Laurie, Billy Elton, Reginald Roberts, to mention only a few names associated with this brilliant comic opera. You also left yourself with the task of appealing to younger generation of theatre-goers as well as the old. The wisdom of your selection will, I have no doubt, be justified by the box office results when you present your production for the approval of the discriminating Auckland playgoers. Your chorus voices are glorious. Particular!}' may I mention Eva Robertson, Ernest Snell and Birrell O’Malley. Ban Flood, I think, is one of the funniest comedians I’ve seen. Beryl Poulton a charming comedienne. and George Lyttleton gives an experienced performance of a very difficult part.’’