Duchess of Dantzic

From personal ephemera collection.

The Duchess of Dantzic

The story concerns Napolean 1 and a laundress, Catherine Upscher who marries Marshall Lefebvre and becomes a Duchess.

The Invercargill Amateur Operatic Society staged this operetta in October 1929. The Southland Times dated the 26th October 1929 has a review of the production. This is part of it. ‘Mrs P.C. Frampton, as Madame Sans-Gene, again gave a splendid interpretation of a somewhat difficult role and achieved what virtually amounted to a triumph. Mr S. Richards (Napolean), Mr T. R. Pryde as Lefebvre, Mr E. J. Read (in the dual role of Bethune and Adhemar), and Mr B. Hammon (Papillion), repeated their previous excellent portrayals. Miss B. M Pryde as Renee and Miss Thelma Wesney (Josephine) were also prominent in the success of the opera. The ballet dancing was excellent, reflecting high credit on Mrs James Smith, the ballet mistress. Mr D. W. McKay’s experienced conducting of the capable body of instrumentalists again resulted felicitously and materially assisted in the success of the performance. The costuming, too was remarkable, while the scenery contributed to the excellence of the opera’.

The Southland Times dated the 29th November 1929 states that the Invercargill Amateur Operatic Society’s production of ‘The Duchess of Dantzic’ sustained a financial loss. The expenditure was £834 plus £55 for theatre rent, plus £50 rent for the arcade, and the receipts were £634 14s 3d.

In the Auckland Star dated the 14th September 1934 it states that the newly formed Mareo Operatic Society will be staging The Duchess of Dantzic. The article states that the play was produced in Auckland a number of years before and it had been a complete success. The newly formed operatic society is an amateur one and it informs their readers that a ‘ first-rate cast of players has been chosen and considerable time and expense has been used to produce really worth while stage settings and scenery. Chorus, ballet, orchestra and principals will total some 100 performers.

The Timaru Herald dated the 15th September 1934 discusses the Mareo production of “The Duchess of Dantzic’. It tells of the production of having a chorus of over 70 voices and a ballet of 20 girls trained by Miss Cecil Hall’.

The review in the Auckland Star on the 22nd September 1934 is quite rapturous in its praise of the production of ‘The Duchess of Dantzic’. It states ‘but when all other considerations have been counted, it will probably be the frocks of old France and the manner of their presentation, and the sparkling character study of Thelma Mareo, which will linger in the memory’.

There is an article in the Auckland Star on the 22nd September 1934 that discusses the costumes that were worn in the production of ‘The Duchess of Dantzic’. For example, the following is about Miss Freda Evans who plays Empress Josephine. ‘Miss Freda Evans, wears her royal robes of Chinese red panne velvet, embroidered heavily with gold, with graceful effect, and the ermine bordered train was held by four pages in white satin suits embroidered in gold and lace ruffles’.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Duchess_of_Dantzic

From PapersPast