SUCCESS

Radio Record, 17 June 1938, Page 22

SUCCESS

DUNEDIN’S. TRIUMPH. IN "OPERA YHERE were no half. measures about-the manner in, which ‘the Dunedin Operatic Society." staged Rudolf ~Friml’s musical-comedy-opera, "The Vagabond King." . The undertaking was the most ambitious ever considered by any amateur organisation in New Zealand. Approximately £1200 was involved before the play opened last week, much of that sum being expended on costumes and settings imported in their entirety from Sydney. Lod: _The ywisdom'of this aet;was "fully, reyealed as, the play’ progressed, It syould have been‘next door to: impossible ‘for the society,’ to have staged’ the production’in any way conyincingly’ without the. proper robing and. settings, ‘which yirtually- thrust the play ‘into the. professional class. a ae ‘Indéed, all things considered, . ‘Phe Vagabond ‘King," as: presented ‘by’ the Dunedin Operatic Society, measured up to the best of ‘professional standards, or at-least.such standards as we know in this-country, Py te, Although. every .part was capably handjed, "The Vagabond King". ‘ must be considered a personal triumph for Mr. James MacFarlane, who played the title role. He electrified the show ; -be gaye a performance that, inspired. the entire cast; it was not only, his. bést individual performance, but must be considered the best performance yet given by any member of the society in any play produced in the past. | oo Playing opposite him, as, Katherine de Vaucelles, favourite of the aged King Louis, was the young Auckland soprano, Miss Rita Stone. If, ‘Miss Stone’s acting was on the negative side, her singing more than compensated for this. She. proved herself as possessing a -voice of unusual range, and of undoubted charm and sweetness. ' It is impossible to mention all the cast here, but as one cannot, with: justice, "slate" any one member, it is only fair to: state that each did- his or:-her best-to carry the show to success, :): The Dunedin Operatic Society. :realised their future depended upon. the sueceess of the play: they stood-or fell by it.. The merits of the production are; such. that the society should now stand’ very firmly. \ ‘