PENWOMEN'S CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 237, 7 October 1933, Page 15

PENWOMEN'S CLUB.

"The Poetic Drama of Gordon Bottomley" was the subject of a delightful address given by the Rev. W. Jellic, M,A., to the members of the Penwomen's Club oil Friday afternoon. "There is practically no poetic drama in the commercial theatre of tlio present day," said the speaker, but ho added that lately thef© had been a great revival of poetry among the people. Movements had been on foot in England and Scotland for the cultivation of the art of verse speaking, and many experiments were being mnde in dramatic form. New chorus effects were being tested, and speaking through masks for symbolic effects, and dances with an accompaniment of Words. Mr. Jellie read Gordon Bottomley's play "Singing Sands," which woh the drama festival competition in both London and Dublin a short time ago. The scene of the play is set in an island of the Hebrides, off the coast of Scotland. A band of eight women in clinging green with long white hair represents the chorus, which tells in unison the prologue of the story in the manner of the ancient Greek plays. Three hundred years ago a member of the MeLeod clan had become betrothed to tlie daughter of its age-long enemy, the McDonalds. In furious resentment, members of the McDonalds set the Mc-Leod lover in ft small boat, without food Or "paddles, adrift in the Boa. By a lucky chance MeLeod was rescued, and in retaliation he suffocated to death a hundred members of the McDonald clan, including his sweetheart, who were sheltering iji a cave. A modern story Is drawn in the setting of the ancient tragedy, but the chanting of the chorus forms the main beauty of this delicate piece of work. Mrs. Carr-Rollett presided and thanked the Speaker. The Pcmvomen's choir, under Miss Amy Hansard, sang "AVelComc, Sweet Pleasure," and "Goodnight."