Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-05-12
THE chimes OF
NORMANDY IS
Big SUCCESS


In the production OF THE Chimes
Of Normandy" last Friday and Sat
urday evenings by the PunahOu Glee
and Dramatic clubs under the d.
rection OF Miss Helen l.. Latham and
Miss Aiary n. Cooper distinct sue
cess was achieved. and that this was
appreciated by the public was eyinced
by the generous enthusiasm Of two
large audiences that completely filled
Bishop Hall both evenings.
When the curtain opened on the
first act, there was a mu-mur Of
pleased surprise followed by a sud
den burst Of applause; for the recent
ly enlarged stage with its appropriate
rural setting was thronged with az
tractive boys and girls gaily dressed
in the costumes OF old Normandy
This was the first OF a series OF
tableaus that delighted the spectators
from the beginning to the end of the
performance That these scenic e.
fects were possible on a stage wholly
imDrovide1 with theatrical equipme Mt
without the aid of professional cos
tuners is in itself a tribute to the
committee of teachers and officers
Of ,le clubs who planned and carried
out the enterprise. The setting of
the second act in the dimly lighted
interior Of an ancient chateau haunt
ed by ghosts was a striking contrast
10 the brilliant scenes that preceded
and followed IL. Mrs. Frank Barwick
prepared the equipment for this and
ably assisted Miss Cooper and Miss
Foster who had charge of the cos
tunes and scenery.
The real success Of the production,
however. lay in the musical and dra
matte work of both principals and
choruses rather than in the beautiful
tablCaus. The choruses were trained
by Miss Helen Latham to a degree of
proficiency that made them not
mere background for the chief sing
ers, but an essential and spirited
part of the production, so that when
ever they appeared they were given
n hearty welcome by the audience
The maid servants chorus in the first
act, with Marguerite Wadman as
soloist, was one of the prettiest in
the opera, and the choruses of coach
men and men servants in the same
scene were also favorites. 'Ding Dong
Bell" with Louise Churchill's solo,
sung by the full chorus in the first
act, and Let our torches light up
the Gloom" Silent Heroes" with
Allan Renton's solo. and "He is look
ing somewhat Pale" with Mr. Nc
Crews solo and the quintet in the Sec
ond act were especially effective.
Miss Latham, as Serpoletle, Louise
Churchill as Germanie, Altman Renton
as Henri, and Mr.. Reynold McGrew
as GrenicheuX, carried the most diff
ficult musical parts with marked sue
cess. All except Louise Churchill
were already known to Honolulu aud
fences and were warmly received
Their excellent solos. duets and trios
delighted everybody, and they all
acted as well as sang with ease and
grace. Louise Churchill's charming
manner and sweet voice were a sur
prise and won many friends for her
at once. She is a pupil of Miss Helen
Caldwell, and il reflects much credit
upon her and her instructor that in
her first public appearance she was
able to sustain so important q part
among those who have had previous
dramatic and musical experience.
Dickson Mott. as Gaspard, was the
best actor of the cast He entered
into the most striking character of
the play with such apparent natural
ness and brought out so well both
the humor and pathos of the old
miser that he gained much applause
Vernon Tenney also presented
difficult character in the old Baltic
fost effectively and did some excellent
work as we'll
Douglas Baldwin was the center OF
mi crest in one very amusing scene
in which he appeared as pompous
m lry.