CHILDREN'S DRAMA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 174, 24 July 1936, Page 8

CHILDREN'S DRAMA.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL. SIX DELIGHTFUL PLAYS. J COMMENT BY MISS E. LOE. Tlic Auckland area of the British Drama League's New Zealand branch opened its annual junior festival in the Lewis Eiidv Hall yesterday afternoon, when six pleasing plays were presented to a small but interested audience. The plays were presented in costume. The children spoke out well, and the performances were of a decidedly jiromising standard.

Miss B. Mackenzie, a member of the organising committee, in introducing the commentator, Miss Elizabeth Loe, a British Drama League tutor from the Central School of Dramatic Art, London, and the Hull Repertory Theatre, explained that this was the first time that the festival was non-competitive. Miss Loe briefly reviewed each plav at its conclusion, and did not hesitate to criticise frankly when necessary.

The first play, "Lavender's Blue," by Violet Methley, was performed by the Petits Perians (pupils of Mrs. Culford Bell), and produced by Mrs. Douglas Young. Miss Loe said the play did not quite capture the fairy story atmosphere, and the players, as was natural, were a little conscious of the audience. "The Crimson Coconut," an absurdity by lan Hay, was staged by the pupils of the Neddon Memorial Technical College. Miss Loe pointed out that the play dragged at times, and that it was most necessary to speed up when presenting farce. She also offered so'nie constructive criticism about the scenery and stage effects.

Xext was "The Goose Girl," an adaptation from Grimm, with another cast from the Petit Perian players, directed by Mrs. Culford Bell. One fault, the commentator said, was the long and rather trying intervals between the acts. As with the others, the play was satisfactory, and there were some" good scenes. Miss Loe had a word of praise for "The Witch's Parlour," iby the Francesca Mayal] players, which, she said, was a very natural performance.

Another good presentation was "The Cobbler and the Elves," by members of the Mime Society, under the direction of Miss Nora O'Halloran. Here, however, some of the lighting changes were not always successful. "A good, clearcut performance" was the description applied by Miss Loe to "Pandora's Box," a play in mime and verse, played by pupils of the Epsom Girls' Grammar School and produced by Mrs. Scliief.

All yesterday's presentations were in the junior class of the festival. Junior and intermediate performances will be given this afternoon and this evening, when the festival will conclude.

An interesting talk 011 the activities of the British Drama League was given by Miss Loe last evening in the University College Hall, Mr. J. D. Swan presiding over a small gathering. The speaker dealt with the aims of the league and of other societies, and also described the evening drama classes conducted by the London. County Council, unemployed men's theatres and clubs in the East End of London and throughout England. She concluded by reading an address on "Drama and the Amateur Movement" broadcast in England by Mr. ,T. Whitworth, general secretary of the league. In the course of her address Miss Loe discussed informally drama activities in New Zealand, and frankly gave her own \iews. Miss Loe also answered questions by members of the audience.