A HAND OUT FOR A HAND-OUT

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31042, 23 April 1966, Page 16

A HAND OUT FOR A HAND-OUT

IBu

WHIM WHAM]

New Zealand drama clubs ar* unable to get grants for premises or equipment, the president, Mr W. N. Sheat. told the annual meeting of the Drama Council In Wellington "Every tlnpot little sporting club from North Cape to the Bluff can get money for toilets, equipment or whatever the' want, but not drama clubs”, he said ... should be equal!' entitled to financial assistance as sporting clubs and otlr non-cultural bodies . . . —News item. Sir, buckle on your Shining Armour! The Lady in Distress is Drama. She looks a Bit like Charley’s Aunt, But never mind, She needs a Grant. Have a Heart, Sir, don’t let Her languish, Indifferent to those Cries of Anguish. She’s prison’d in the Parish Hall, With hardly any Stage at All. It’s just as well the Lighting’s bad She isn’t specially well clad. The Curtain creaks, won’t Someone oil It? The Kettle leaks don’t try and boil It. There’s Nothing but a ‘Chemmy’ Toilet Oh, what a Come-down for a Lady Whose Past was gay, if slightly shady! In ancient Greece she looked Divine And WAS, among the Sacred Nine, Ah, sad Melpomene, poor Thalia, Your Show’s a Flop, your Play’s a Failure; This Creek you’re up, is not Castalia, It dribbles from the Parish Pump; And you’re no Muse, you poor old Frump! Never mind, Sir, although She’s not The Giri she was, she’s All we’ve got. What’s More, she’s game, she carries on When Half her Audience is gone The OTHER Half forgot to come Give her a Chance, the poor old Crumb! Why should the Indoor Bowlers gain At her Expense, and cause such Pain? Or Softball and Brass Band Fanatics Get More than Amateur Dramatics? NON-CULTURAL Sports like These, indeed! The Play’s the Thing, and She’s the Lead. She can’t act, and she’s not Good-looking At Least, it’s better than her Cooking.