FOUR ONE ACT PLAYS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21449, 15 April 1935, Page 6

FOUR ONE ACT PLAYS

OLD WESTONIANS' DRAMATIC SOCIETY Members of the Old Wesionians' Dramatic Society .may with all modesty congratulate themselves on the splendid progress they have macje since they placed themselves in Mis Bernard Beeby's hands about |2 mojiths ago. A capacity for hard work and attention to detail should result in a similar improvement during the ne*t year. The plays chosen for Saturday night's performance in the Training College hall bristled with minor difficulties. Mr J. C. Wilton succeeded admirably in this respect in his work on the part of the Irish story-teller Who paid the supreme sacrifice.' I}e created and sustained a definite, lovable character, and played his part easily and well. A similar gogd attempt by Mr K. Martin was roerred by the poverty of his speed}. Diana Walker, as Ruth, showed definite signs of her possibilities in emotional roles.

In No. 2 on the programme, Mr Eric Pearce was appropriately bored as the author, and Miss Ethel Brydon expressed her desires through her every movement. Miss Betty Cossar gave no evidence except in her words that she "worshipped the spirit of Peter Pan." If this play had been taken at a quicker tempo the effect of spasmodic movement would have beea eliminated.

In the third play, the work of every member of the cast was commendable. Each character had been carefully studied by the person portraying it

Miss Jessie Buchanan revealed a nice sense of humour restrained in the fourth play, which was notable also for the good acting of Miss Muriel Hooper, and, in a part which gave little opportunity, of Miss Nancy Ruston. This amusing trifle made apparent the necessity for the careful performance of even such simple things as the drinking of tea. Those taking part were as follows: Misses Diana Walker, Ethel Brydon, M. Buchanan. T. Rathgen, Betty Cossar, Sybil Hull, Gladys Carey, Marjory Fraser, Rae McCammon, Ada LePage, Jessie Buchanan, Nancy Ruston, Nina Devpn, Rona Green. Muriel Hooper, Kathleen Lee, and Messrs K. Martin, J. C. Wilton, E. Pearce, L. G. Arnold, C. Bodger, and O. Hclson. The production was in the careful hands of Mrs Bernard Beeby, and Mr K. Martin was stage manager.