She was born for the musical stage

I would like to pay a personal tribute to Annlee Hollard, who passed away recently after a long illness. 

I also write this on behalf of the sadly dwindling number of performers and workers who gave so freely of their time and talents on the stage of the Springs Civic Theatre in the last thirty years of 2000.

Annlee will always be remembered by the community for her delightful portrayals in our musicals which were born in the sixties. 

It seems Annlee was born for the musical stage.

She may well have featured in productions prior to 1969 but it was in that year that I auditioned for a Springs Past Pupils production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Gondoliers”. 

I had not met Annlee until that time but as soon as she got up to audition I knew we had found our “Gianetta” and Nora Savage, her singing teacher at the time, nodded in proud approval as I ticked Annlee’s name next to the leading soprano role.

She was perfect in the part and was surrounded by a strong cast in what was to prove one of our greatest hits.

As a fanatic I went on to present many of their operas, and Annlee was always first choice for the leading soprano in Trial by Jury, The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado and The Yeomen of the Guard, as well as concert versions of some of the lesser-known Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

With her training and excellent leaning towards classical musicals she was not afraid to do a bit of cross over and she graced the stage in Babes in Arms in which she sang the well-known The Lady is a Tramp and also in the more modern field she played the notable role of the Mother Superior in The Sound or Music.

What a wonderful personality with great stage presence. 

Annlee was always a pleasure to work with. 

Of course I had to let her have her own way at times, especially when she told me firmly but politely that she could never kneel on stage, I had to rearrange several musical numbers to accommodate her on that point.

With those singers and actors who are still with us I say farewell to a lovely person. 

Our sympathies go to her husband Hughie and to her large family. 

She delighted hundreds of people who supported our musical productions in Springs.

Dennis Watson.