Opera stalwart marking another stage

Dunedin Operatic Society president Lynda Wright-Sear (left) and longest serving member Evelyne...
Dunedin Operatic Society president Lynda Wright-Sear (left) and longest serving member Evelyne Lovett celebrate the 80th anniversary of the society. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
She may need assistance walking from time to time, but Evelyne Lovett is just as animated as the day she first took the stage with the Dunedin Operatic Society.

The 82-year-old joined the society 57 years ago and is the longest-serving member.

She celebrated the organisation's 80th anniversary recently with about 300 other members.

Mrs Lovett said she was far from being "a drama queen" and had never held a leading role in any of the society's productions.

Rather, she was fondly referred to as one of the three "aunties" by members of the society because she frequently baked cakes for the cast and kept a protective eye out for younger cast members.

Put simply, Mrs Lovett said she earned the nickname, only because she was one of the "older women, and still around".

She recalled her first show, Bitter Sweet, staged in 1952.

The show provided an outlet for her love of singing, and her lasting loyalty was won by the family atmosphere of the organisation, she said.

"It was exciting to be part of a whole show - it's like a family.

"Singing has kept me sane. Everyone's life has dark moments. Singing with a group ... it brings a special something to my life."

Mrs Lovett was a member of the society's chorus for more than a decade, is a past president, a life member and will continue to work in the wardrobe for the society's show The Producers in August.

 

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