The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-02-22
| SECRET MARRIAGE
BY ClMAROSA Is
WELL RECEIVED
Fair-Sized Audience Hears Grass
Roots Opera Company in
Comic Opera; Singers
Well Cast in
Roles
BY CATHERINE D. MEEKINS

BY CATHERINE d. MEEKINS
The Grass Roots Opera Company,
appearing Thursday night in Man
teo in Cimarosa's "The Secret
Marriage, was we'll received by an
audience of more than $50 people,
a large percentage of those attend
ing being students. The opera.
which was light, and humorous
brought much applause and great
deal of laughter in the humorous
spots.
Perhaps the best performance
was given by Keith Alan Gotta, who
sang the. role of Geronimo, the
aging, half-deaf, shaky and irate
father of the heroine. Mr.. Gotta,
who is only % years of age, por-
trayed the character of the aged
man with great understanding and
used his fine bass voice with much
flexibility, purity of tone and ex-
cellent diction.
Diane Holland, vino sang the
coloratura role of Carolina, won
the hearts of her audience with not
only her voice but also with her
personality. Her voice, while light,
shows great possibilities, and her
poise, breath control and diction
added up to enable her to make
the character of Carolina come
alive for her audience.
The other parts were equally we'll
cast. Alec Dantre played Count
Robinson; Louise Alexander sang
the role of Elisetta; Catherine
Frantzsis the role of Fidalma; and
Carlton English the part of Pao-
limo. All the voices showed a purity
of tone, excellent musicianship and
the all-essential quality of good
blending in the choruses.
The singers held their audience,
after the first two arias, and kept
them entertained throughout the
evening. 1t is to be deplored that
some children in the audience (and
some of them quite old enough to
know better) rose and bolted fol-
the door as the cast went into the
| finale. Sensing that the show was
almost over, there were some who
just couldn't wait for some reason
until the last two minutes were
completed. 1t was one of the rudest
arb most thoue! tess things ever
witnessed in an audience in Man
teo. Let us hope that parents and
teachers will strive to teach Their
youngsters to be polite enough and
gracious enough to sit through the
last few minutes of an entertain
ment. 1t is the least one can 60 to
show appreciation for an enter
tainer's effort and &c e'lcw the
rem ainder of the audience 20 enjoy
the show. The majority of children
remained in their seats, but the
few who interrupted by leaving
cast a black eye on the manners
of the community.
The opera, which was written in
Italian in the 18th century, has
recently been made into a new
English version by David Wither-
spoon and Robert Bird, both OF
, Raleigh. In at least one spot the
text was modernized to the extent
of including modern American
slang.
One spot in the opera was a
, little puzzling to this writer. Per-
haps it is just because l am not
too familiar with the complete
story of the opera, but it did seem
little incongruous for character
with the British name of Robinson
making his first entry in Scottish
kilt, to have the title of "Count"
Perhaps someone has good ex-
PLANTATION for this.
A word of praise should be given
to Fredrie Pepper, who was not
only the director, but also served
at the piano as accompanist.
The opera was brought to Man.
. teo by the Roanoke Island Music
Club, with the cooperation anC
joint sponsorship of the following
organizations: Kitty Hawk P.T.A.;
Manns Harbor Woman's Club;
Manteo Lions Club; Manteo Mason.
ic Lodge; Manteo P.T.A.; Mantec
Rotary Club; Manteo Woman's
Club; Mays Head Chamber OF
Commerce; Roanoke Island Garden
Club; Wanchese Masonic Lodge;
Wanchese P.T.A.; and Wanchese
Ruritan Club. All expenses were
paid and slight profit will be
used for civic cause to be deter
mined in the near future. Overall
chairman for the opera movement
was Mrs. Thomas Chears, Jr., to
whom a great deal of credit should
be given. Mrs. Chears and with
Mrs. Julian Oneto, president of the