DRAMA FESTIVAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 251, 22 August 1950, Page 2

DRAMA FESTIVAL

OPENING NIGHT AT EIFFELTON FUNCTION WELL SUPPORTED In spite, of the flood water which kept many followers away, there was a large attendance last evening when the Eiffelton Hall Society's fifth annual drama festival was opened. Three plays were presented, and a high standard ‘of performance was reached in each. At the close of the first play the president, Mr S. P. Taylor, welcomed the visitors and thanked them for their support. He then introduced Miss Anne Don (Timaru), the adjudicator, who conveyed best wishes for a very successful season from the South Canterbury Drama League. Miss Don then made her criticism of the play, a practice she adopted after the succeeding presentations. She pointed out that players, through festivals such as this, should gain hints and ideas about many types of plays. A very important factor, she said, lay in keeping up the tempo of the play throughout, thus holding the interest of the audience.

During the festival players are competing for the drama shield for the best dramatic play presented, and a comedy cup for the best comedy. The present holders of the shield are the Ashburton players, and the holders of the cup are the Methven Drama Club. Both trophies were on display at the side of the stage.

The first play presented last evening was “The Chimney Corner” (M. E. Atkinson) by the Allenton Drama Club. The parts were taken as follow: Simone, Margery Harris; Helene, June Knox; Jacqueline, Pauline Campbell; a peasant woman, Doris Campbell; Jeanne Libert, Elizabeth Breeze. The Hinds Institute Drama Club then presented “’To Be Destroyed, Unopened” (F. Morton Howard). The parts were taken as follow: Mrs Rachel Wilmer, Beryl Chisnall; Mrs Gfarto#, Phyllis Shaw; Frederick Shursby, Ken McConnell; Mrs Miriam Thomas, Eva Tod; Luke Bassett, lan McConnell; Anne Pearson, Rona McConnell. _ , . “Dawn To The Seas” (Stuart Ready) was then presented by the Methven Players. Those taking part were: Stephen Venner, Donald Anderson; Sarah, his mother, Edna Hamber; Mary, his sister, Rita Mangin; Martin, his father, Bert Pearce; Bob,, his brother, Alex Paulin; Sue Lawson, Hazel Martin. The festival will be continued tomorrow evening, when plays will be presented by the Hinds Womens Ipstitue Drama Chib, Wakanui Drama Club, Eiffelton Drama Club and Ashburton Drama Circle, and will conclude on Thursday evening.

ONE-ACT PLAYS AT WAKANUI Before an excellent attendance, the Wakanui Drama Club recently staged three plays in the Wakanui Hall. The performance was very creditable, and showed that the members had spared no efforts in preparing the plays. The three one-act plays performed were “The Bride,” “Trifles” and “Nicodemus.” Under the direction of Jean Protheroe and Mildred Moore, the whole entertainment went off without a hitch. The casts were: — “The Bride” —Margaret Doak (Susan), Catherine McCosker (Mrs Irving), Margaret Cairns (Judith), Helen Cairns (Joyce), Margaret Buttenck (Madam) and Nancy Wilson (Miss Sparrow). , The cast for “Trifles,” a drama by Susan Glaspill, was:—James Sinclair (County Attorney), Bruce Esker (Sheriff), Forbes Taylor (Lewis Hali), Mildred Moore (Mrs Peter), and Jean Protheroe (Mrs Hali). In the final play, “Nicodemus, a comedy by Joseph Corrie, characters were-—Jack Brand (Jonathan), Margaret Moore (Matilda), Forbes Taylor (Nicodemus), Ella Montgomerie (Emma), Derek Cunnington (The Vicar), and Michael Cunnington (Luke). At the conclusion a dance was held, Messrs R. Kingsbury and H. Addis providing the music, with Mr H. Begg as master of ceremonies.