WITH THE AMATEURS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21206, 31 August 1940, Page 13 (Supplement)

WITH THE AMATEURS

Hamiltonian Chats With Queen Noel Owens, who was a member of the Hamilton Operatic Society, and is now a sergeant in the New Zealand Royal Air Force on active service in England, writing to relatives, mentions that he had quite a long chat with the Queen when she visited a club in London.

He asked her if she remembered her visit to Hamilton and she answered that she remembered her drive through Steele Park quite well. Sergeant Owens says he found the Queen most natural and very easy to converse with. He had an invitation to see “ Me and My Gal,” the musical play that has been running for a couple of years, and after the show had a long talk with Stanley Lupino. Sydney Saunders, also of the Hamilton Operatic Society, accompanied him on his visit behind the scenes. Chance for Nelson Eddy’s Understudy Douglas McPhail, handsome young baritone who appeared as Nelson Eddy’s understudy in “Sweethearts,” has been chosen to play opposite Judy Garland in her first solo starring film, “Little Nellie Kelly.” Judy is 18 now and the studio has decided to give her straight romantic roles. Hamilton Magicians’ Club Members of the Hamilton Magicians’ Club are kept busy in Hamilton and in the smaller towns fulfilling engagements. The club has the prospect of a visit by the Auckland Magicians’ Club about the end of September. Hamiltonian in Dunedin Mrs Garden (well remembered in Hamilton as Isa Duff) has a prominent part in “When We are Married,” by J. B. Priestley, to be staged by the Dunedin Repertory Society for four nights next week. The proceeds will go to the Otago patriotic funds. Productions By Wellington Thespians The Wellington Thespians have chosen their final production for this year. After “ Caprice ” they will present the “ thriller,” “ They WaiK Alone,” by Max Catto, which recently had an extended run on the English stage. This will be presented early in October. “ Caprice,” by the Continental dramatist, Sil-Vara, will be presented in the Concert Chamber early next month. It is being produced by Mr K. Fowles. In the female lead is Lynda Hastings, who will be well remembered by theatre-goers. Dunedin Playbox An amusing comedy, “ The Black Sheep,” by Monica Cossens, was staged by Walter Russell-Wood at the Dunedin Playbox. Operatic Society’s Melody Masque Song albums have claimed more than passing attention from members of the Christchurch Operatic Society and their friends during the last few weeks —the reason being the society’s melody masquerade held this week at the Winter Garden. “Come as a sonfe” was the invitation of the organising committee, who inquired in song language “Would You?” “Be in a Dancing Mood?” The committee had formed itself into an orchestra for the occasion, with “painest,” “first vile din,” “coronet,” “shellest,” “Maestro,” “first fluke,” “second (H)oboe,” “first ' (H)oboe,” “double bass,” and “concussion.”