"BLITHE SPIRIT"

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 55, 4 February 1953, Page 6

"BLITHE SPIRIT"

ANOTHER POPULAU SUCCE3S The P'Cpular success of tlie Taupo Dramatic Society's production "Blitihe 'S'pirit" was mamt&ined at uhe special additional performahce s*laged Iast >Wednes-day. It was the lourth perfoiiiiance and was specially arranged at tlie request of numerous residents and visitors who missed the first three, In spite of a wet and thundery evering which caused ari hour's delay owing to the faihire of the lights, Rickit's Hall was twothirds full for the performance. It is known that many others remained at liiorne owing to the atrocious weather eonditions and the attendance must therefore be considered to be a great tribute to the reputation gained in the first production of this y-outhful society. As Iris Osborne had only just retprned from some unknown part of ihe eountry where she eould not be loeated, the part of Mrs Bradman was .taken by Iris Taylor who had learnt the part in the previous two weeks and gave a very competent performance after only two rehearsais, The commencement of ihe final performance was dalayed as the result of a report received shortiy before 8 p.m., that the lighting would be restored at any moment, and it was only when these moments had stretched into nearly one hour that It was decided to go ahead with the aid of artificial lighting. The waiting period in complete darkness was filled in some delightful piano selos by Miss Dulcie Cohen and by songs from Miss Yvonrie Sharp* Under the Tilly ligihts the first scene fvas most effective and ihe players romped , through to produce probably their best effort of the season. The second scene, which required switchi ng out the liglits for the seance, necessitated some departure from the script owing to the unace'ustomed eonditions. The players suceessfuliy negotiated this and were settling down to the seance when the electricity was switched on and the lights returned back-stage. The players received special applause for their pereformance after a very difficult scene, earried through with all oiost professional ease and finesse. In their dressing rooms afterwards the members of the cast expressed keen appreciation of the patience of the audience during the long* waiting period. This eoncludes ihe season of the Taupo Dramatic Society's first production. It has given the new organisation a wonderful start, There is still a wealth of talent amongst the aetre&ses of Taupo who did not reeeive an opportunity in this production and the Society now requires a few competent men to give the cjasting committee a wider choioe when it comes to staging future production s. The performance previously arranged to be given at Mangakino on ) ebruary 11th., has since been cancelled, owing to difficulties involved in the transport of the stage scenery, ^nd the time factor.