COMMUNITY DRAMA

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 258, 28 July 1941, Page 5

COMMUNITY DRAMA

Wellington Festival Ends

“THE WILLING HORSE” WINS TWO CUPS

"The Willing Horse,” an original oneaet play in a New Zealand setting, written by Isabel Andrews, Wellington, and produced by Mr. D. J. Edwards, won, not only the Sir Michael Myers Cup for the best play presented during the community drama festival’of the British Drama League this year, but also the cup for the best original play. When this was announced by the adjudicator, Mr.. Bernard Beeby, to a well-filled Town Hall Concert Chamber in Wellington on Saturday night, the audience, in no uncertain way, showed its full-hearted approval of the decision, and gave the authoress a big “hand.”

Among those who occupied seats on the platform at the conclusion of the festival were the Hon. H. G. It. Mason, Minister of Education, and Mrs. Fraser, wife of the Prime Minister.

In the afternoon the junior section of the Wellington branch of the league entertained a large audience by the performance of four one-act plays. The Hataitai Players presented “The Birthday of the infanta”; the Karori Players an excerpt from "A Midsummer Night’s Dream”; the Lower Hutt Players, “Paddly Pools”; aud the Eastbourne Players, "Three Riddles.” At night a very good standard was achieved, when three playlets only were enacted. These were as follows:—

Belfrauces Players in “The Sisters’ Tragedy,” by Richard Hughes. Players— Mavis Ring, Lois Mair, Gwen Luff, Fred Gaines, and Vere Hampson-Tindale; produced by Isabel Halligan. AH Saints Players in “Mr. Haeket’s Alibi,” by H. V. Purcell. Players—F. Hill Porter, Grace Buchanan, F. V. Sanderson, Iris Porter, and Alisou Hanger. Produced by Ulu Hancock. Wellington East Old Girls’ Dramatic Society iu "Mirror to Elizabeth,” by T. B. Morris. Players—Nola Millar, Joan Flack, Noelinc McGowan, Zona Muir, Rae Sturroek, Bettu Roussell. Myara Moore, and Beryl McMillan. Produced by Helen Mitchell. After the presentation of plays, the chairman of the area committee, Mr. A. S. Farquhar, said that there was doubt for a time whether a festival should be held this year, but it was decided to go forward with the idea of possibly raising something for the patriotic fund. Dunedin aud Hamilton were holding festivals at the same time, and complimentary telegrams had passed between all three area branches. He had been struck with the improvement iu the type of play selected, and he thought the standard of acting also had improved. Mr. Farquhar dwelt on the necessity and importance of keeping up the study of the drama, specially at the present time, when people so much needed to be taken out of themselves.

The judge, Mr. Beeby, said he could definitely endorse what the chairman had said about the improvement in the quality of the plays. They were really of a high standard. There hud been some good performances. He proceeded to place the various groups in the order of precedence. The first three were “The Willing Horse.” which gained a B certificate and 84 points (out of a possible 1001 : the second was "Perfect Ending,” B certificate aud 82 points; and the third, "It's Autumn Now,” B certificate and 80 points. The others were placed in the following order: —"The Sisters' Tragedy,”. “Mirror to Elizabeth,” “Tea Room,” "Mr. Haeket’s Alibi,” “The Good and the Bad,” “Slow Curtain,” and (equal) “Joint Owners iu Spain” and “The Veiled Menace.”

Of original plays there were only two, “The Willing Horse,” and “Tea Room.” lie had given the honour to the firstnamed as, op the whole, it was better written—it was a bright little play, aud such comedy as it contained was not easy to write. "Tea Room” was also good; it was a chatty little play with a surprise ending. Mr. Mason congratulated all concerned in the success of the festival, and commended. thq faith, and courage of tha

committee iu having gone forward with it. To neglect everything cultural just because there was a war on was, he considered. a mistake. He thought the work of preparing these performances was a help as they provided a stimulating recreation. 'Of all the arts that might be practised iu war he thought the drama was perhaps the best, as it appealed to the imagination and had a unifying effect, as people all responded in the same manner to the appeals it made to the sense of comedy, drama and the emotions. For that reason he thought the drama brought .people closer together.