Background / provenance

This original “Book of Songs and Words” booklet relates to the New Zealand romantic comedy opera “Marama or the Mere and the Maori Maid,” written by H. S. B. Ribbands with music by Archie Don. First staged in Hastings in 1920, the production became one of the earliest locally written New Zealand comic operas to gain national attention. The booklet contains the opera storyline, lyrics, musical numbers and cast information associated with the production.

Printed by The Cliff Press, Hastings, the opera combined Maori themes, poi, haka and regional New Zealand settings with European comic opera traditions, reflecting an early attempt to create a distinctly New Zealand stage production. Historical archives record successful touring productions through the 1920s and later revivals. Surviving examples are now held in New Zealand institutional collections including the National Library and Auckland Libraries archives.

Details

• Original “Book of Songs and Words” booklet
• “Marama or the Mere and the Maori Maid”
• Circa 1920 publication
• Printed by The Cliff Press, Hastings
• Romantic comedy opera in two acts
• Words by H. S. B. Ribbands
• Music by A. R. Don
• 23 pages
• Softcover booklet format
• Includes storyline and character pages
• Includes musical numbers and lyrics
• “Price: One Shilling” to front cover
• New Zealand theatre and Maori cultural ephemera

Condition: General age-related toning, creasing and edge wear visible. Fold marks and staple wear present to cover and internal pages. Pages appear complete and readable from supplied images.

Pick-up / courier Pick-up fine from Botany Downs or Auckland CBD by appointment. Items are packed securely. Courier is at buyer’s cost.