This folder contains two typed scripts with pages numbered 2-30, one of which has minor annotations. There is also a smaller typed list of songs arranged by four Acts, titled 'Extrav. 1948' [i.e. Vothuhalla].

This split-pin file contains one script, titled VOTHUHALLA and inscribed Phyllis Levita. The file includes p.2-30 (as in item munr00001), annotated, and also p. 1 and an additional page titled 'Canning scene'. There is also a loose typed and annotated sheet with song titles.

This folder contains loose sheets titled: - Sheet headed 'The Co-operative Holidays Society : New Zealand's First Folk School, Hokio Beach, Levin', with a handwritten list of names and valuations of some of the brass and wood-wind instruments. - Handwritten piece of music, titled 'I can't get a girl to practice on' [no other lyrics] . Annotated 'O'Mally'. [Note: 'I can't get a girl to practice on' was included in the 1950 Extrav, 'Hollandaze'.] - Three untitled half-sheets of handwritten music. - List of 'Waltzes' giving titles and keys. - Typed programme listing titles of songs for Prologue and Acts I-III. Titles include 'Texas chorus in F'; 'Don't get around much'; 'Stranger of Galilee'; 'Jingle Jangle Jingle'; 'Kiss the boys goodbye' .... The page has been annotated 'Possibly for ?Jubileevit 1949 or Hollandaze 1950'.

Large blank scrapbook annotated 'F.W.M. Munro', titled inside cover 'Sidarella 1951' and containing typed 32 p. libretto with accompanying manuscript music on opposite page. Frank Munro acted as Musical Director for this production (source: letter accomanying donation).

A letter accompanying the donation states: "21 August 1988 ... Following our discussion recently on the telephone I send here a few odds and ends from material we used in the late 1940's in the production of the then annual student Extravaganzas. These were always referred to by us students as 'Extrav.' and had been mounted for decades by a succession of students. They usually ran for about a week in the Opera House and the money raised was put towards the fund for the new Student Union building. The old rickety two-storey building had to be seen to be believed and in hindsight was dangerous into the bargain. It rocked badly in a high wind, earthquake or student dances. These were usually pretty enthusiastic affairs. The building also doubled as a gymnasium which didn't do it a lot of good either. I'm afraid that I haven't found as much material as I'd hoped but I do seem to have found the scripts of three productions - or most of them. 'Vothuhalla', 'Sidarella', and the 1948 script for which no title seems apparent. For a number of years my own involvement was musical and always in the orchestra pit either as drummer, piano player and a couple of turns as musical director/conductor. This last role I took over from Dave Cohen when he decided he'd had enough. I seem to have saved the musical director's folio of Sidarella. I had hoped to find more. There are a few snippets of odds and ends of music and what looks to be the valuations of some of the brass and wood-wind instruments - probably for some insurance purposes. One year we tok the whole show to Napier, travelling overnight on the backs of trucks. We played a couple of nights there and then travelled back again the same way. The orchestra truck amused itself most of the way by making its own music. Everything looks now to be pretty primitive but one has to remember that we were all very amateur, mostly part-time students and probably even poorer than today's students. We did our best with very limited resources. In trying to date these three 'Extravs', only the 1948 un-named one seems definite. I suspect Sidarella was circa 1949-1950 as Sydney Holland became Prime Minister in late 1949. That puts Vothuhalla at approx. 1947. In that regard I now recall that the opening chorus to the tune of 'Oklahoma' was taken from an as yet un-released recording of the musical which Jeff Stewart had got hold of somehow. My fiancee (then), Shirley Roy, played a few bars of Jeff's radiogram, Jeff picked them up on his piano and I wrote them down. As you can imagine this was pretty laborious, but at least we sang the rousing Oklahoma tune (with Vothuhalla words) before anyone else in New Zealand had heard the chorus!....[signed] Frank Munro"