LEADING LADY

Radio Record, 6 May 1938, Page 18

LEADING LADY

HONOUR TO AUCKLAND GIRL : AT long last the lead in the Dunedin Operatic Society’s £1200 venture, "The Vagabond King," has been announced, and the coveted role has been awarded a singer. virtually unknown in Dunedin. ‘Miss Rita Stone, Auckland soprano, will, for a time, become known as Katherine. de Vaucelles. , we ‘She heads an impressive cast, the pick of local talent having been drafted for this play. " Leading parts are taken by Freda Elmes, Tui Northey, Mrs. John Hamer, James ‘Macfarlane, who plays Villon, the Vagabond King, Richard White, John Gordon, R. A, Wilson, Stan Lawson, R. P. Murphy, Mark Gaston, H. W. Griffiths and Donald Munro, ; In addition to this outstanding cast there is a chorus of 76, 40 women and 86 men, under the direction of Mr. Jameg Clark, the society’s musical director. The presentation. of this opera is far and away the biggest thing the Operatic Society has ever attempted. Its cast promises success. The very ambition behind the project deserves suce cess.. And a lot depends on its success. Apart from the return the society expects to obtain from the people of Dunedin, it is hoped that the suecess of the play wiil mean an easing of the financial outlay of £1200. Much of the expense involved has been created because the original settings and costumes have been imported from: Sydney. If the opera is a success in the south it will. be repeated’ by amateur societies in other centres and the initial cost of importing the scénery, ete., will be partly borne by these other societies. The production of the play is'in the hands of Mr, Stan Lawson, and the ballets will be supplied by the LawsonPowell School'.of Dancing.: ,