OPERA IN REHEARSAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1915, Page 8

OPERA IN REHEARSAL.

NEW PLYMOUTH AMATEURS AT WORE. PREPARING "THE MIKADO." Some unkind critic once said that it was good to look upon a beautiful woman in the park or at the theatre, but if you would put her beauty to the test you should see her at home in the .morning. One has similar thoughts about an opera. A play is a fascinating picture, when the limelight operator is in good form, when the scenic artist has excelled himself, when everybody is happy in their gay and varied costumes, and when even a stage manager may be persuaded to feel glad; but take away all the frills and delcorations, and look upon an opera ; in the making, and you ■prill discover what you may find in many a woman before she has gathered her "looking-glass beauty." It brings one back to thoughts of the conditions under which Shakespeare's plays were first given to a generation which did not know the arts of stage-craft—when Oscar Asche, that master of scenic effects, would have had to be content to act in front of three bare walls on which was written, in chalk, curt sentences telling the scenes which the audience was asked to imagine! In those days plays and aetors had to be of conspicuous merit to survive, and those days provide a parallel with a rehearsal to-day, so that if one can watch a rehearsal and find pleasure and satisfaction in it, one is assured of the success of the production when artists have finished thei- conception of the raw matter. A Daily News representative popped in to the New Plymouth Operatic Society's rehearsal the other night, and witnessed the building-up of "The Mikado." He saw a very generous amount of talent, being employed to provide a highly satisfactory structure. The amateurs have another fortnight before -them before they will present the evergreen opera to the public, and while all that time will be required to attain a satisfying state of perfection, there is sufficient merit in the performance, as it was carried out in the cold surroundings of a draughty hall, without the elements of color and lights, to point t,o a thoroughly successful issue. Mr. E. N. Renaud is primarily responsible for what has been achieved, and it is good to see the enthusiasm which he throws into his duties as conductor. The feature which impresses most is the strength of the chorus, who make a particularly good showing, very .much above .the average of amateurs. The combined tone and power of the ladies and the ,men arc splendid, and in their work the chorus produce a richness whic'n has particularly good effect in the finales. Some of the men could be a little more lighthearted and less "stiff," and attempt to cultivate the brightness which the ladies throw into the work. Coming to the jirincipals, who. as a whole, are not so satisfying as the' choru?, Miss Maud Peart at onVe attracts notice by her . excellent singing and clever acting, while Misses Gilbert (2) and K. Bennett are excellent. The two former ladies have several solos to sing, and while) displaying pleasing voices, they are per- I fectlv natural in their acting. Mr. J. W. Haslam is' the best of the men, although it is Jio-t until the second act that his voice is heard to the best advantage. He has a role which allows him to be very entertaining. Mr. A. Gray and Mr. E. Garlic both possess good voices, while Mr. A. MacDiarmid makes a good Mikado. The music for the practices has been in the capable hands of Miss Beryl Hirst, and she is now assisted by an efficient orchestra. The general excellence of ''The Mikado" rehearsals 'augurs well for a successful production in a fortnight. All the proceeds of the three performances at the Theatre Royal 011 October 20, 27 and 28 are to be given to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, and this assistance of the amateurs should be generously acknowledged by the public.