PLAY FESTIVAL

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 73, 23 September 1933, Page 7

PLAY FESTIVAL

BRITISH DRAMA LEAGUE

Excellent' work—if only, in the training o£ ( play-going audiences—is being done by the British Drama League in New Zealand. So much was evident at the Y.W.C.A. Hall-last night when the first group of playa was , presented to the judges, as well as to a, packed and in» tereeted audience. Before the plays began Julias Amy Kane: welcomed* the. visiting players, who had come from Auckland; Hastings, .Christchurch, Timaru, Dannevirk'e, Tarauaki, Masterton, 'and Orari.. She outlined the objects of the British Drama League and'ite purpose'in bringing the.New Zealand groups together in one festival, and commended the players for their enthusiasm. She also introduced the judges, the Rev. W. A.. Constable, find Messrs. Leo dv Chateau and W. -S. Wauchop. Miss Elizabeth Blake explained that the right way to, regard .the festival was not as in the nature of a competition but in the true festival spirit. The jtidges, she intimated,' would reserve their comments and decisions until the end of the festival—this evening. ;|; ..^ The plays presented last night, with their companies and casts, were as follows:—St. Matthew's Scboo!,. .Masterton, Old Girls' Circle: "The- New. Word :,(J. M. Barrie); Mr. Tovi-ance, Joeelyn, Hornabrook; Mrs. Torranee, Petty Patterson; Roger Torrance, June Stroute; Emma lorrance,. Beth Eobinson. , Producer, Coustance Miller. ■ ■ : • ■The Wellington Lyceum Club Dramatic Circle: "The Odd Streak" (Roland•Pertwee); Cheviot, Wanda Herbert; Mrs. Weston, K. Fagan; Lena Weston, Joyce Barker; Paula Weston, Maude Berry. Producer, M. E. P. Ahem. '' ' Hastings Comedy Players: "Knight to Move" (Adrian Hurley)'; Maryan Car.teret, Alix Rochfort; Valeric, Cecily Bell; ; Roger Cavteret, Bart, H. Russell Moss; Maid,..Z. Wright; Margery Allen, Nellie. Waugh; Bevan-Brown, Sidney Chaplin.' . . - Elain Dramatic Club, Auckland: "The Sisters' Tragedy" (Hughes). No'names of those taking part in this play appeared on the programme nor the name of the producer. . . _ This afternoon four plays are in pro-Ri-ess furnished by The Readers, Timaru; Linton Women's Institute; the Ornri Readers A team; and ( the Nameless Group, Christchurch This'evening three more .plays will be given by'players from Taranakiand Dannevirke and will include twoplays the scenes of which are laid in New Zealand. ■ • . His Excellency' the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) will present the trophies and certificates; Mr. Victor Lloyd wjII announce the winners of ti-ophies, and the Rev. W. A. Constable will sum up for the judges and'announce the position'of the teamsj