“THE CINGALEE”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1938, Page 6

“THE CINGALEE”

BRIGHT PERFORMANCE BY AMATEURS

SUCCESSFUL FIRST NIGHT ! AT OPERA HOUSE. AUDIENCE SHOWS WARM APPRECIATION. Well presented in every way, in colourful and effective scenes, the musical comedy “The Cingalee,” was received by its first-night audience at the Opera House on Saturday with an enthusiastic approval that must have been very gratifying to the Masterton Amateur Theatrical Society, to the members of a talented company and to the producer, Mrs Edna Paterson. The house was comfortably filled and the players from the outset were on happy terms with their audience. Applause was frequent and hearty and the company was saluted with an ovation at the end of the performance.

The story of. “The Cingalee”—the story of an intended mixed marriage and of the romantic and other complications it occasions, on and in the neighbourhood of a tea plantation in Ceylon—matters as little as do those of most musical comedies, but it makes demands on both actors and vocalists which were met uniformly well on Saturday evening. The staging of the comedy by the Amateurs touches high standards and the dressing is verj r beautiful indeed. Many of the ensemble scenes are brilliantly spectacular. The music is . delightful throughout —rippling and tuneful ’melodies, pleasantly varied and ranging all the way from gay and spirited to tender and plaintive. Under the baton of Mr R. J. Young, musical director, and with Mrs W. G. Perry at the piano, orchestra, chorus and'individual vocalists all acquitted themselves splendidly. The comedy is enriched greatly by the graceful numbers contributed by an accomplished ballet and by Miss Rona Edwards as solo dancer.

The pace of the performance on Saturday evening might have been quickened a little at times, but save in this particular, which no doubt will be amended in succeeding performances, there-was very little, fault indeed to be found with the .presentation. The company was well handled in the most elaborate and complicated scenes in which the comedy abounds. In “The Cingalee,” the more important acting and singing demands are distributed to a greater extent than is usual amongst a number of principals and supporting players. Under the comprehensive test thus imposed the members of the company gave proof of fine ability individually and as a team.

As Nanoya (the Cingalee) Miss Bebe Francis won the hearts of her audience. In her Nanoya, dainty grace, wistful and appealing charm, and whimsical humour were blended most delightfully. As a vocalist, too,. Miss Francis gave great pleasure to her hearers. Her song, “Cinnamon Tree,” was a gem of the evening. Mrs F. Dingle and Miss Joan Evans also had important parts to play and played them with exceptional artistry and address. Both are gifted vocalists and Miss Evans has a pleasant mastery of mimicry and of dialect. In the comic part of • Chambuddy Ram, a rascally but h happy-/hearted Babu lawyer, Mr Ray Foster 'made a most acceptable contribution to the success of the evening. He imparted the right spirit to extravagantly humorous sallies and broad burlesque. His lines and patter were at all .times clearly -spoken and he was heard to advantage .as a vocalist. His duet with Miss Evans, “Pretty Poll,” was deservedly popular. As Boobhamba, a native nobleman, Mr C. Rogers dealt most •effectively with a burlesque role and gave a highly competent and finished performance. Another very successful member of the company was Mr J. Claridge, who won well-deserved popularity in his songs and other items. Mr J. Warham, who had the part of Harry Vereker, is possessed of a voice well suited to his role as a lover and his diction and singing enunciation are both commendably clear. He partnered Miss Francis effectively in duets, but his part called at times foi- rather more animation and spirit than he displayed. Mr A. McFarlane was thoroughly effective as a peppery, and at times bibulous high commissioner and judge. ’!■ As a quartette of tea girls who have much to do with the action of the play and are called upon as vocalists as well as in speaking parts, Misses Yolande Ruby, Nina Boddington, Zoe Pickering and Meta McJorrow were graceful and charming at all times. Besides being responsible for much amusing by-play they had a central part in many pretty scenes. With a more limited range of opportunity, Miss Phyllis Shearer (as the daughter of the peppery judge) and her four friends—Misses Connie Joblin, Pat O’Callaghan, Winnie Young and Joyce Shearer —added notably to the beauty and effect of the spectacular scenes of which there are so many in the comedy. The contrast between the picturesque native dresses and the stylish frocks of the English ladies is one of the features of the play. The numerous subordinate parts/’ in the comedy are all taken well and capably. “The Cingalee” will be repeated nightly at the Opera House until Saturday next. The performance starts at 8 p.m. Following is the cast: —

Hon Harry Vereker (a tea planter in Ceylon), John Warham; Boobhamba Chettur Bhoy (a native nobleman of Kandy), Charles Rogers; Sir Peter Loftus (High Commisioner and Judge at Colombo), Alex McFarlane; Bobby Warren (a pupil on the plantation, nephew of Sir Peter), Jim Claridge; four Englishmen (pupils on the plantation), R. Shaw, G. Donald, L. Marshall, W. McMichael; Myamgah (native servant to Sir Peter) —A. S. McWhinnie; guards, Jack Jenkin, Ivan McWhinnie; Chambuddy Ram (a Babu lawyer), Ray Foster; Peggy Sabine (a Londpn girl), Joan Evans; Lady Patricia Vereker (sister of Vereker — a woman of fashion), Freida Dingle; Naitooma, Sattambi, Mychellah, Soomo (tea girls on. the plantation), Yolande Ruby, Nina Boddington, Zoe Pickering, Meta McJorrow; Angy Loftus (Sir Peter’s daughter), Phyllis Shearer; four English ladies (friends of Angy), Coneth Joblin, Pat O’Callaghan, Winnie Young. Joyce Shearer; Nanoya (a tea girl), Bebe Francis. Coolies, tea girls, guards, tea pickers, etc. Chorus: — Misses H. Bell, E. Brader, J. Beattie, G. Clemas, M. Dwyer, Mrs G. Dagg, J. Grey, C. Joblin, J. Jackson, E Knowles, C. Malmo, L. McAlister, N. McEwen, M. McEwen, J. Newland, Mrs Z. Paterson, L. Rickards, N. Snowsill, J. Smith, B. Turner, D. Win-

gate, F. Youngquest, E. Yalden, W. Young, P. O’Callaghan, J. Shearer. Messrs G. Barr, H. Buckeridge, G. Clemas, R. Cobb, L. Dean, F. Gillions, J. Jenkins, R. Langley, L. Marshall, I. McWhinnie, J. Tobin, A. Thompson, G. Delahunty, H. Wright, R. Shaw, W. Mic Michael, G. Donald, T. Denbee and P. Griffin. Ballet: Misses Avis Loft, Audrey Loft, Ngaire Russell, Joan Grey, Hazel Lock, Gwen Wainscott, Rona Perry, Pauline Reynolds. Orchestra: First violins: Mrs L. T. Aitchison and Mr E. Larsen. Second violins: Miss Beale and Mr J. Gray. ’Cello: Mr E. F. Wilson. Bass: Mr Arthur Russell. Flute: Mr ConneH. Clarionet; Mr W. H. Snowsill. Cornet: Mr Geo. Hutchinson. Trombone: Mr Allan Pearson. Drums and effects: Mr L. Tozer. At the piano: Mrs W. G. Perry, A.T.C.L. Musical director: Mr R. J. Young.