A casting meeting-audition is to be held in the Little Theatre on Monday, March 17th (Begorrah!) at 8.15. All persons interested in taking part on stage in the cast, chorus or male ballet or backstage with the stage crew, wardrobe, properties or make-up should be at the meeting. The heads of the various departments will be there to get to know persons interested in helping.

Some of the music to be used in the show comes from recent stage shows and it is hoped to be able to play the recordings at the meeting to give an idea of the tunes.

Production Team:

The production this year is in the hands of Bill Sheat who co-produced last year's show with Ian Rich and who has been in the directorial chair on a number of previous occasions. The musical director is Peter Crowe who performed this chose in 1955. It is hoped that Margaret Salter will be Ballet Mistress. Aileen Claridge (now of Christchurch) is taking two months' leave to come north to act as pianist for the show. Adrian Sirett is in charge of make-up again, (Other appointments will be made in the next few weeks.)

Script:

The script is being written by Frank Curtin of Hamilton. Frank has been associated with Extrav.. over the last decade as actor on numerous occasions and as author in 1950, 1953 and 1957. It would not be fair to reveal the plot at this stage. It will be sufficient to say that it makes "War and Peace" look like "Grandma's Diary".

To be included in the show is an Opera. Details of the plot are highly secret. It is being written by those irrepressible maestri Pietroyitch Kaucauski (late Moscow Conservatorium) and Guglielmo Schiatti (late La Scala, Milan), whose earlier efforts include "II Lavatore" (Extrav. 1954) and "Hokonui Carmen" (Extrav. 1955). The production of this particular item will need some good voices. Those interested in taking part in the opera should come to the casting meeting. If you have a specialty act it may be possible to fit it into the opening scene which is set in a well-known dine and dance joint.

Back-Room Boys:

A strong administrative team is working on the details of organisation. Headed by David Wilson as Organiser, they have already laid plans for the Wellington, Lower Hutt and Napier seasons. Publicity is in the hands of veteran advertising men Stewart Comber and Surrey Kent. By the time they have finished nobody will be able to say they did not know Extrav. was on. John Fernyhough is Sales Manager, Warwick Dent is preparing an Interval Entertainment, and David Davy, aided and abetted by Don Trow, is keeping an eye on the financial side of things. Others on the committee include Derek Home-wood, Tony Ferrers and John Laurenson, who is secretary to the Committee. Dr. S. G. Culliford has joined the Committee as liaison with the Vice-Chancellor.