Obituary

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28714, 11 October 1958, Page 11

Obituary

DR. H. E. HODGE

Dr. Horace Emerton Hodge, who died in Dunedin this week, was well known under the name

of Merton Hodge as the author of the play “The Wind and the Rain,” which ran in London for 1000 performances, and also on Broadway. Dr. Hodge, who was 54, was the only New Zealander to achieve international stature as a playwright.

His reputation was primarily based on the play “The Wind and the Rain,” but he wrote other plays' of considerable dramatic worth, including “Grief Goes Over” and “Orchard'Walls,” and he collaborated with Godfrey Tearle in “The Island.”

Dr. Hodge also produced an Anglicised version of “Men in White” and wrote a play from Olive Schreiner’s “Story of an African Farm.” He wrote for films, engaged for a short time in production of industrial films, production of instructional films, and acted both on the stage and in films.

Throughout his life Dr. Hodge had to attempt to reconcile his two careers—medicine and the theatre. He graduated from the Otago University • medical school in 1928. He was on the staff of St. George’s Hospital, London, when “The Wind and the Rain” was produced at St. Martin’s Theatre in 1933. He was then 29. It subsequently ran for 1000 performances and achieved some measure of success on Broadway. During the next 'few years Dr. Hodge wrote several plays which were presented in the West End. He also engaged in film work. When World War II broke out he returned at once to London from New York to join the staff of the Camberwell House hospital for nervous, diseases. At intervals he was granted leave to tour with “The Wind and the Rain,” playing the part of Charles Tritton himself. He returned to Dunedin several years ago and engaged in medical practice after marrying Miss Kathleen Rutherford v horn he had met in England.