Page 24 - Palace Theatre News

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The Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger – Saturday 5 December
1914

Redditch Amateur Operatic Society - 1914
This society had in rehearsal at the beginning of the season, German’s “Merrie England” but
at the outbreak of the war decided to give instead a reproduction of “The Mikado,” the
proceeds being devoted to the local war relief fund. The opera was very successfully
produced at the Palace Theatre, Redditch, during the current week, and there were large
audiences. The work was well mounted and staged, and the cast of principals was an
exceptionally strong one, even as compared with the previous performance six years ago.
Mrs Hugh Russell, a local artiste with a pleasing stage presence and soprano voice of good
range and quality, filled the part of “Yum-Yum” successfully, and had adequate support from
Mrs Percy Evans (“Pitti Sing”) and Mrs Lewis (“Beep Bo”). A very fine performance was given
by Mrs J. W. Davis in the part of “Katisha,” which was the part she filled at the previous
production. In the title role Mr J. Alfred Hill was found a part which suited his universally
high histrionic powers, and Mr Charles Slater repeated his former success in the
representation of the wandering minstrel, “Nanki Poo.” Mr James Sandiland, as “Ko-Ko”

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