"DOROTHY"

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10460, 26 October 1911, Page 5

"DOROTHY"

A SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE.

Tht' large and enthusiastic audience which, assembled in the Town Hall last evening, to witness the production of the comic opera "Dor■bthy," iby the Masterton Amateur Theatrical Society, must have been very gratifying to the management and performers alike. The piece was a decided isuccess from, every point of vi<*w, and the whole production re-flects-the greatest credit on the ductor, Mr Gerald 0. Branson. The cp?ra abounds in quaint and pretty musics and those present were treatec' to a most delaghfcful evening',- entertainment. The opening scene depicts hop picking gardens in the County of Kent, and the last century dresses lend a charm' to the oatohy chorus, "Lads and Lasses." Great laughter is.caused here..at.the,; I entrance of ' 'Phyllis' ' and her lover • trie K ,th,c-ii v miarriage. : ¥ ;,At v .enteiv ' 'Dc.rotiiy'' and' ; 'Lydja," daughter and- niece of S,q.uire-; Bantum, who have"thrown off their frills and fur-' belcws,. to join in. the festivities. '■Dcai tliy," in a charming solo, tries to persuade "Phyllis" not to enter into matrimony, but despite the ftfioviA of both"Dorothy" and "Lydia, she doe.s not swerve from her dcteimiriation. W/liile in their country frocks, "Dorothy" and "Lydia" ' are confrorited by. Geoffrey Wilder (Squir<> Bantum's nephew), and Sherwood. These two young James become very mixed in. trying to persuade the two gentlemen that they are daughters of old farmer "Tuppitt." The latter also tries to convince the two gentlemen of the likeness to himself of "''Dorothy'*' arid "Lydia," who have parsed tnenuseivese off as two of his daughters. Unfortunately for the two gentlemen, tio Bailiff appears on the sceno. He •w,'j]l listen to,'np' schemes/, but when Wilde" save® him from the hands « f ■thd villagers, who' are in the act of ducfcmg him, he decides to help them in their little scheme to obtain money to pay the sheriff. The second act opens in a charming old: English Hall at the house of Squire Bantum " "Lurcher" arrives disguised as tht- Secretary of the Duke of Berkshire, who 'has come to ask the ho&pitality of the Squire. The Squire immediately welcomes "Wilder" and "Sherwood," who; do not recognise "Dorothy" and "Lydia." They soon, !ib\vever, fall in lovo with them, and Dorothy and Lydia hasten to show .how base and deceitful a thing is man. .Wilder'* scheme for obtaining money is put into operation, and eventually Lurcher deokres that the Duke (Wilder) has been robbed of eighty pounds, the exact amount owing to Lurcher: The Duke is pressed to accept a loan. As the visitors are again returning a huntsman's horn is heard in the distance, 'and the singing of the. "Hunting Chorus" brings the second act to a close.- -Tlie third act opens ••with a dance of peasants in honour of the marriage of '"Phyllis" and "Tom." ' Wilds-/and Sherwood decide to withdraw their pledges to Dorothy and Lvdia of the night before, and ret'irii to Dorcas' and Abigail. .The resuit is a challenge from the two champions of Dorothy and Lydia, who demand satisfaction— either marriage or a £&el. On pistols being procured, Dorothy and Lydia, who impersonate these champions, become very f l-ightened and decide upon a 1 as. to get out of the .scrape. Lurcher betrays Wilder'® plot, and the Squire is willing to forgive everything if Wilder marries his cousin Dorothy, which he doe&, Sherwood marrying Lydia. .Miss J ago, who played the principal pant, that of "Dorothy," gave an excellent rendering of the character, her acting and singing being off an exceptionally high order. Her solo, "lie wise in time," was particularly -appreciated, being given with great ta."-to and expression. The part of "Lydia" was in the hands of Mrs A. 'Daniell,' who right throughout gave a .splendid account, of herself in Iboth acting and singing. "Phyllis" 1 was i-i. the capable hands of Miss Cameron, who played her part with ease, and rendered her solo, most satisfactorily. Mi&s B, Johnson sustained the difficult part of "Mrs Privett" very well indeed, and ler acting deserves .special mention. Loca! play-goers, who'remember Mrs Henry ißr'acy playing this part, will roadilv "understand how difficult it is for an amateur to undertake the role. Mr Jagoas "Wilder" both acted and sang with spirit, his. rendering of "With Such a Dainty Dame" being a particularly pleasing item. Mr h. H Elcoate gave a capital rendering of "Sherwood." He was in splendid