NEW ZEALAND DRAMATISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 252, 25 October 1933, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND DRAMATISTS.

Success among New Zealanders in drama is not quite such a rare thing as the cables announcing Dr. Merton Hodge's achievement have suggested (say 3 the Dunedin "Evening Star"). It is incorrect to say that "Dr. Hodge is the first New Zealander to secure a West End production." Plavs of Mr. Reginald Berkeley, who has a long list'of them to his credit, have been very successful in London, and a few weeks ago Mr. C. R. Allen wrote in our columns: "No one will contest Captain Berkeley's position as the most considerable dramatist who hns emanated from New Zealand." But that word "emanated" was either well or very luckily chosen. Mr. (or Captain) Berkeley was born in London, though he completed bis education ,at Auckland University College. By a strict test it is to be feared that he cannot be claimed as a New Zealander. Mr. Arthur H. Adams, however, who was born at Lawrence, though for a long time past he has lived in Sydney, had his play "Mrs. Pretty 'and the Premier" produced in London. Dr. Hodge we understand to be an Aucklander by birth, though he took his medical degree, only four years ago, at Otago University. An earlier play of his, "As It Was in the Beginning," was produced by one of the Sunday societies at the Arts Theatre, London. His new comedy has been praised by the critics for its humour, humanity, and vitality, all first-class qualities to be possessed. More plays have been read and written, as well as acted by amateurs, during the last few years in this country than in any previous period of its history. The amount of verse written and published, of quite promising standard, would seem also to have increased enormously. If a connection between them could be established these developments might be reckonrd as one of the best fruits of our depression, which, on its worst side—so statistics make "U" —has not depressed general health and a- *«• to lunacy.