THEATRICAL SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 1 December 1913, Page 7

THEATRICAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL REPORT.

The following is the -annual report of the Masterton A-nateur Theatrical Society, which was presented and adopted at the annual meeting on Friday evening:—

My committee have pleasure in presenting to you the balance-sheet for the season ending November, 1913. You will no doubt be pleased to see 'that the society is still going ahead, and although the balance in the bank is only £53 16s 4d, this is an advance on last year of £6 6s Id, but on the other hand, the assets over liabilities have increased from £93 12s 7d to £153 16a 4d, an increase of £4O 3s 9d, which provesi that the wx/ioty is on a very sound footing. . The production of "The Geisha" was undoubtedly the greatest success the society has ever experienced, and has placed the hall-mark on it ia an amateur society. It therefor.) is ossential for every member to strain every effort to .*nake the next production go one better. It would be impossible to individualise all who helped the society to make "The Gfcisiha" the success it was, because every entered heart and soul into it. At the same time, whilst thanking the conductor, stage manager, principals, dancing instructress and orchestra, a hearty vote of thanks is due to the ladies'. wardrobe committee,, for.,the excellent manner in which they carried out,their arduous duties, a tribute to which was the. way the audiences appreciated the re&ailt of their efforts. ■" ■

Members of the society are also to be congratulated on the number of kind friends they have, who not only bought tickets, but also placed their motor cars for the use of members on their journey to Martinborough, and a record should be placed on the books of the society showing its appreciation of same. Thanks are due to Messrs R. Gray and T. Wagg for the use of their rooms free of charge for the storage of wardrobe and scenery. The society are 'iwstaining a heavy loss in losing their honorary pianiste, Miss E. Richards, who has elected to retire from single blessedness and run in double harness. The society wish her every success in her new venture.

During the past- season the society provided a drag for atv# of the members who wished to sec the production of "The Princess, of Poppyland" in Greytown. This proved a great success, the only trouble being that drag proved too small, nece'ssitatmg some going down by motor car. It isi .to be-hoped that the society will always be in a position to be able to give members .similar trips. The society were also enabled to send a number of their members to see the Wanganui production of "The Geisha.'' This expense my committee considers well spent, as the tuition gained there by Miss Roberts, Messrs Hall and Young undoubtedly proved the recruit of the production here.

The society have also sent their ambassadors, Messrs Hall and Young, to see the production of "The Country Girl," in New Plymouth, and trust that the experience they gained therefrom will enable the society to again hold its own with any amateur society iu the Dominion. A special vote of thanks is duo to Mr Noble-Campbell and his assistants, Miss Dagg and Mr A. I>. Gillies, for the hard work and time they devoted to the society in the make-up of members at the last production. A hearty vote of thanks is also due to the press for the very valuable services it has rendered the society.

In conclusion, it is to be hoped that all members: will turn up regularly to the rehearsals and do their utmost to make the coining production a greater success, if possible, than that of "The* Geisha," H. C ROBERTS, Hon. Sec.