Newspaper Article 1982 – Show full of colour

Show full of colour

Bandits, revolutionaries and a bevy of senoritas appear to be the main ingredients of “Viva Mexico!” the latest production of the Hastings Operatic Society.

This colourful show, which opened in the Hastings Municipal Theatre on Saturday, has a convoluted plot that won’t bear too close an investigation. It concerns the holding up of a stage coach by a bandit gang to circumvent the delivery of a million dollars by an American senator in order to shore up the crumbling presidential regime.

Strength

The music to support the story has been culled from a number of old songs and presented with new lyrics, attributed to Phil Park. The show has been adapted and arranged by Ronald Hanmer from the script by Phil Park and Bernard Dunn.

The major strength of Saturday’s performance was a well-balanced orchestra and lusty chorus work under the direction of Bob Gowing, and they made the most of the many concerted numbers. But much of the music bore little relation to Mexico, and only occasionally, with numbers like La Cucaracha or La Paloma, did the Latin atmosphere match the costumes and scenery.

The work of the individual principals was not nearly so successful, and this was due in large measure to inadequate microphone coverage, so that when the players moved out of microphone range their dialogue and songs weakened in volume to an extent that they could not be received adequately in the dress circle. More rehearsal would also have helped to give crispness and assurance to their work.

Shirley Gowdy scored a personal success as Mama Inez, the owner of El Rancho Grande, where most of the action took place. The romantic leads were taken by Bev Ward as Raquelita, who sang appealingly, and Bernard Thomas as Ramon, the son of Mama Inez who was also the bandit leader, known as El Zorro.

Dave Horne as Lopez, the hated Chief of Police, provided good characterisation, as did Mike Curley as his sergeant. Laurie O’Donoghue looked the part of a revolutionary leader as Mendoza, and Dennis Hamilton provided the necessary contrast as the American senator:

Feature

A spectacular ceremony in an Aztec temple was a feature of the show, with Carolyn Leese as a priestess making a strong impression in a brief appearance.

The script provides for plenty of slapstick with most of the fun coming from Mane Neho as Pablo and Carl Jamieson as Pepe, two peasant handymen of the bandit leader. Their antics were in the broad tradition of pantomine [pantomime], and greatly amused the large number of children in the audience, particularly when they attempted a bullfight with Maureen Hopkins and Staveley Tankersley as the front and back legs of the bull.

The show was directed by Hamilton, with Tankersley as choreographer and Nanette Roberts as chorus mistress. Performances will continue throughout the week. – ERIC BRADWELL.