Newsletter 1988 – Hawke’s Bay Regional Opera Trust

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL OPERA TRUST

P.O. BOX 1015 NAPIER. SECRETARY Mrs N.R. BAKER. TELEPHONE (070) 60020 HASTINGS.

NEWSLETTER NO. 2 – 29TH APRIL, 1988

Dear Sponsors, Patrons, Members and Friends of the Trust.

No doubt you will all be pleased to receive this second newsletter to bring you up to date and show you all that a great deal is happening out there! The staging of “La Traviata” is our first priority now but support for the concept of the Opera Trust and its aims, is still capturing the imagination of people with vision. We hope too that the various groups who have been contacted will not be far behind in offering their support and services, which can mean benefits for all.

TRUST STAR PATRONS … To Date.
GOLD PATRONS
$500   Mr. and Mrs. H.A.A. Baird   Hastings
$500   Gifford, Devine and Partners   Hastings

SILVER PATRONS
$200   Sir Richard and Lady Harrison   Takapau
$200   Cox and Coxon – The Professionals   Hastings
$200   Mr. J.W.W. Franssen   Hastings
$200   Deloitte, Haskins and Sells   Hastings
$200   International Insurance Brokers   Hastings

BRONZE PATRONS
$135   Jean and George Newdick   Dannevirke
$100   Ian Kerr Pharmacy   Hastings
$100   Joy and Erlin Thomsen   Taradale

Star Patrons receive complimentary circle seats, discounts to some Trust functons [functions], newsletters and their name printed in the “La Traviata” programme.

DONATIONS have been recieved [received] from …
Central Hawke’s Bay Music Society   $300
Mrs. M.E. Lowry, Havelock North   $ 50
Longley & Massey Funeral Services   $ 50
David and Margaret Kitts   $ 10
Mrs. Freda Milne   $ 5 & Membership
Ulrick & Greta Williams   $ 5 & Membership

TRUST MEMBERSHIP
This was set at $20 single, $35 for couples including their children to school leaving age. Membership has grown to over 130!

SWEATSHIRTS.   We have in hand, winter sweatshirts printed most tastefully with your Opera Trust Logo and name. Colours red, navy, royal blue and black, price only $35. A number of members, their families and friends are wearing these already. Advertise the Trust! Order yours by ringing the Secretary or Helen Date 777405 or Leith Morgan 799475, Hastings.

La Traviata
Major sponsor of this event is the Hastings Building Society.

SPONSORSHIP …  You will all know by now that our Major Sponsor for this season is the Hastings Building Society who presented the Trust with $15,000 towards costs and is generally promoting “La Traviata”. The Hastings Building Society office in Market Street, Hastings will be the venue for booking of seats for the general public. A volunteer team of booking officers will be waiting ready to assist there from 19th July onwards. PLEASE DO NOT RING THE BUILDING SOCIETY.

TICKET BROCHURE.   Read this carefully, plan your party ahead and prepare to book early.

TRANSPORT.   The Taradale C.W.I. under the supervision of Mrs. J. McGonigal, is arranging transport for its members, to one of the performances of “La Traviata”, using private cars. The Central H.B. Music Society is arranging a bus load from

Waipukurau area, and it is understood that a bus load can be expected from both Wellington and Gisborne. This is good thinking! A suggestion is for members of service or hobbie [hobby] Clubs, to make it a worthwhile project to organise transport for their members and friends, especially the elderly who need both transport and company. Should any organisation be particularly interested in this kind of project in the community, please contact the Secretary, Mrs. N. Baker, 69920. Remember there are elderly Opera lovers living in institutions, or on their own at home who would love a night out if they could be picked up and delivered safely to their door again. How about the Early performance night.

“La Traviata” Logo.   The “La Traviata” Logo was designed by Geoff Fuller and first used on audition notices. It was inspired by “The Lady of the Camellias” from which the Opera was taken.

AUDITIONS.   These were held most successfully over a weekend full of fun and hard work. Our Director, Mr. Richard Campion and Musical Director, Mr. Bruce Greenfield, were very pleased with the response.

CAST LIST   UNDERSTUDIES

VIOLETTA   Daryn Edmundson, Napier   Elizabeth Biggs, Wellington
ALFREDO.   Anthony Benfell, O.B.E., Auckland   Matthew Keaton, Wellington
GERMONT SNR.   Roger Wilson, Wellington   Paul Lyons, Palmerston North
FLORA.   Elizabeth Curtis, Havelock North   Glen Sutherland, Hastings
ANNINA   Naomi Baker, Hastings   Lauris Varney, Hastings
GASTON   Ken Keyes [Keys], Hastings   Alex Burns, Hastings
BARON   Joe Christensen, Hastings   Warwick Bull, Hastings
MARQUESS   Paul Lyons, Palmerston North   Alex Burns, Hastings
DR. GRENVIL   Christopher Gibbs, Havelock North   Warwick Bull, Hastings
JOESPH [JOSEPH]  Henk Van Hooijdonk, Hastings
FLORA’S SERVANT   Alex Burns, Hastings
COMMISSIONER   Michael Morgan, Hastings

CHORUS AND ACTORS.   Alison Closs, Janice Davidson, Olive Gibbs, Julie Gifkin, Beverley Heard, Diane Hopson, Maria Krunic, Wendy-Lee Kyle, Lynne Matthews, Maree Reid, Janet Smith, Glen Sutherland, Lauris Varney, Frances Tod, Ricky Be Hague, Warwick Bull, Scott Cormack, Terry Keller, Murray McKenzie, Michael Morgan, David Reefman, Brendon Torley.

DANCERS.   Corinne Bowey, William Waitoa.

PIANISTS.   We are fortunate indeed to have the services of Mrs. Margaret Cooper and Mrs. Glenys still both of Havelock North, and Mrs. Corrie Hughes, Longlands as Rehearsal pianists, with Mrs. Ann Morgan, Hastings as Orchestral and performance pianist.

ORCHESTRA.   This is now complete and began rehearsing on 23rd April. A very successful weekend of rehearsals was held. Later in the season, Bruce Greenfield will bring some Wellington players to swell the ranks. The enthusiasm of the instrumentalists for the concept of the Trust is very encouraging. We hope to have some publicity about our Orchestra, in the newspapers in the weeks ahead.

PRODUCTION TEAM.   Additions have been made to the team since the last newsletter.
STAGE MANAGER.   Alan Jones, husband of Choreographer Leigh Jones.
DRESSERS.   Frances Murray, Agnes Van Hooijdonk.
PROPERTIES.   Jenny Morley, Tania Daly, Louise & Tim Anderson
SOUND TECH.   Sid Jago.
HAIRDRESSER.   Marcia Waldin of “Cut Above”, Hastings
FLORIST.   Fay Rohleder.
CALL STEWARD.  Merlyn Jarden.
TEA LADIES.   Ngaire Hawke, Eileen Sampson, Daphne McPherson, Shirley Vogtherr.

“ON STAGE BAND”.   Mrs. June Clifford of Napier is to train and conduct a band of musicians from Napier Boys’ and Napier Girls’ High Schools. Bruce Greenfield is, with other tasks, writing arrangements for each instrument

WANTED..   We seek… hairpieces, wigs, discarded costume jewellery, fans, shawls, men’s and ladies gloves, capes, slips, hoops, ruffles, feathers, evening jackets, waistcoats, ball gowns, coloured tights, materials, laces, silk felt or velvet flowers, canes, top hats, etc. etc. Also required, 2 chandeliers for the salon scene. Any offers? Please contact Naomi Baker if you have any of the above to Donate or loan.

BILLETS. Roger Wilson, one of our star performers, will be requiring a billet from July 16th or 17th to approx. August 7th. Please, No cats and preferably not dogs. Roger is a little allergic to these animals’ fur. Not inducive to good singing. Billets will also be required for instrumentalists from Wellington. Should anyone like to assist with these, please contact the Secretary.

*** LUNCH TIME CONCERT ***

Daryn Edmundson will be joined by Matthew Keaton from Wellington, to appear in a lunch time concert, to promote the Opera Trust, on Thursday 12th May at the Baptist Church in Lyndon Road, Hastings at 12.10 p.m. Daryn is already well known to Hawke’s Bay audiences and Matthew is to understudy “Alfredo” for the Opera Trust’s production in July/August. They will sing excerpts from Opera and Joan Thompson, Napier pianist will accompany them. A third artist for this concert is Frances Morgan, clarinet player who will be accompanied by Ann Morgan, Hastings pianist. Frances returned from Australia last year where she has taught and performed on clarinet for several years. Entrance will be by donation, so please give generously, and be there to show your support.

REHEARSAL VENUES.   Grateful thanks to the Principal and Mr. Paul Matthews for their assistance and the loaning of the Audio Visual room at the Hastings Boys’ High School, for the Orchestra rehearsals. We are also extremely grateful to Miss Frame and the nurses of the Hastings Memorial Hospital, for the use of Harding Hall for the Chorus/Principal rehearsals. Such involvement with this community project is invaluable to the Trust and we hope to make the contact mutually beneficial.

CONTRIBUTIONS:   For those wishing to become members or join our Star Patron scheme, please complete the attached slip and return to us. All contributions will be acknowledged.

The Secretary
Hawke’s Bay Regional Opera Trust
P.O. Box 1015 NAPIER
(1)   Please find enclosed $20/$35 being single/family membership of the Trust Name.
Name
Address
Telephone No.
(2)   Please find enclosed $    being donation/star patron for the Trust.