Merrie England

Merrie England," to be performed in the Botanic
Gardens tomorrow week, is .charming music — an
ideal choice for Sunday afternoon entertainment in a
garden setting. It wili have equal appeal to highbrow
and lowbrow tastes.
Sir Walter Raleigh and Jill-
All- Aione will be chronologically
incorrect when they sing "It Is
the Merry Month of May." '
But in his next solo, the gallant
Sir Walter will be "right on the
beam." This gay little song is
"Dan Cupid Hath a Garden."
"Merrie England," a comic opera,
was written by the distinguished
English composer Sir Edward Ger
man. It was first produced at the
Savoy Theatre, London, in 1902.
Mr Hector Crawford, who will
conduct the Melbourne Conserva-
torium Symphony Orchestra and
the Orpheon Choir of 200 voices,
is not worried about the weather.
His friends call him "Lucky Craw
ford" because in seven years of
open air concerts he has suffered
only one day of scattered showers.
Soloists, choir and orchestra will
have their first combined rehearsal
on Tuesday night. On Saturday
they will rehearse In the gardens.
The concert is being sponsored
by The Herald. It will be broad
cast by 3DB.