"ORIGINAL NIGHT."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 282, 27 November 1940, Page 12

"ORIGINAL NIGHT."

PENWOMEN'S ITEMS.

An "original night," bringing tlie sea >on to a close, gave the large audience nt the Penwomcn's C'hib last night an opportunity to show tlieir appreciation of the work ot" their own memlters. All the jHjems, plays and songs presented were original compositions, and revealed some excellent talent, while congratulatioiiH are also due to those interpreting the.rn on the stage. In her opening address the president, Mrs. Helen (Jrittiths. spoke of the invaluable effect which literary study has on the inind. She made mention of the. fHCt that a menilier. Mi** Kdell Marie •tones, had just had a song accepted in Kngland. 'I he New Zealand dinger, .Mr. Hubert Carter, hoj»ed to sing it to the. troops at Home. Two songs by Lucy Mackintosh Masefield were sung by* Winifred Osborne. Then followed an interesting radii) play written by Patsv Pentv and produced by Mrs. Maisie Carte. Lloyd. The players were not seen, only their voices coming from behind the radio, and th>» effect was excellent. The prize for the play was presented by the cluh and judge<l by Mr. O'Donajihue, who spoke of the difference l>etween radio and stage technique. ■The poems for the Kdna Mackv cup were judged by Mr. J{. A. .Singer, two poems by Patsy I'enty, "To a New Zealand Soldier and "The Unceasing Voice" being the winners. Mr. Singer, who recited them, said that he considered that the poems entered were remarkable for the fac> that there was nothing that was not worthwhile in any of them. Mrs Macky presented the cup* to Miss Pentv. Another composer of songs, Dora Ben- , Mtt, presented two numbers, which were sung by Jda Walker. [ The winning stage play was acted by a particularly competent cast, and the. prize, donated l>y Mrs. Xelio Porter, was presented to Joyce Fleming liy Mr. F. A. Goodwin, who acted as judge. Its quality of "theatre ' was the most pleasing feature of this play, Mr. Goodwin said, the lack of understanding of stage requirements being the outstanding fault of the others sent in. A further poem by Patsy Penty was recited by Pat Boyle. The final item was a mime by Violet Spurling, for which the president, Mrs. Griffiths, donated the prize. The producer was Mr. Bailey, who stressed the importance of mime in acting. The club» 1940 short story competition, donated by Mrs. Wilson Wilson, was also won by Miss Spurling.