"THE PLAY'S THE THING!"

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 74, 25 September 1934, Page 4

"THE PLAY'S THE THING!"

DRAMA LEAGUE FESTIVAL 1

ADJUDICATOR'S AWARDS

A high standard of amateur dramatic art was commented upon enthusiastically by a .large crowd in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last night on the occasion of the*final night of the third annual festival of the Wellington area' of the British Dfama League. Five plays were presented last night,'making the total seventeen for the festival, six of them being original plays • written by New Zealanders. _ "Drums," written by Mr. B. R. OBrijfn, of Wellington, was awarded the Dairy Exporter" Cup for the best New Zealand play presented during the festival. Considered as', a production, "Drums, presetted by a team of The Thespians, with H' N. Hannah as producer, tied for second place with "Wisdom," the Marsdeu Players, produced by E. Maslen. The Sir Michael Myers Cup for the best1 produced play of the, Wellington festival was won by the Wellington Repertory Theatre team, presenting "The Dumb and the Blind," by Harold Chapin. ! Appreciation of .the very good attendances during the festival was expressed by Mr. A. S. Farquhar, chairman of the festival committee. The adjudicator (Mr. Leo dv Chateau)* expressed the warmest thanks for the manner in which, the audiences had received his comments, and praised the stage manager and officials for their efficient conduct of the festival. He paid a tribute to the founder of the British Drama-League movement (Miss Elizabeth Blake) for her part in organising amateur dramatic festivals throughout the Dominion. During the past three weeks he had adjudicated fiftyone one-act plays. He considered that many of the works were unplayable, considering the mechanical and technical difficulties. He was reminded by some of the plays of Stevenson's' statement to the effect that a dark garden cries aloud for murder' and empty houseo to be haunted, yet he would have authors remember that "the play's the thing." WiUiam Archer had said that the only definition of the dramatic was a representation of imaginative characters capable of interesting an average audience. He recommended authors to make' themselves conversant with the facilities for production. The choice of plays imposed a' very grave responsibility upon selectors. Plays should not be chosen which Were palpably bej'ond the capabilities of the players available. He -would refuse to produce a play for which the physical and other attributes of the players were laciing. He had had the very recent experience.ot a youtu o£ nineteen endeavouring to represent a venerable bishop supposed to be capable of converting an escaped convict. "The Dumb and the Blind, as presented by ■ the Wellington Repertory Theatre, secured the only A certificate awarded, and the Sir Michael Myers Cup. The players were: Coralie Smythson, Edna Purdie, F. 6. Hayes-Towns, H. A. Painter, and G. H. A. Swan (producer). "Drums" was presented by Joan Raine, Norman Hannah, B. R. O'Brien (author), Eric Young, and H. N. Hannah (producer). _ , . , "Wisdom" (by Veruon Sylvaine) was presented by the Mnrsdcn Players team-ATi-nette Harcourt, George Stock, Ulnc Williams, Alison Puvdy, Molly Brown, Sonia Caselberg, and Judith Williams (pro'(illCGl*). The plays presented last night included: "Reflection," by A. L. Kennedy (original play by New Zealand author). Presented by the Drury Players.—Cast: Joseph Lancaster lan Cook; Alice Lancaster (his wife), Sybil Martyn Williams; Pauline Lancaster (his daughter), Gwen Boyd; Claude Hemingway, A. L. Kennedy;JJavid Manners, N. Gilleapie; Frederick Ballantyne (detective), Hugh Williams; William Simpson (detective), Grenville Williams. Producer, Sybil Martyn Williams. "They're None of Them Perfect," by Sophie Kerr. Presented by the junior branch of the Navy League Drama Club.— Cast: Amanda, Ngaire Horton; Lucy Haines, Irene Spidy; Julia Moore, Betty Menard; Cecile Prentice, Violet Bevan; Eva Terry, Helen Bevan; Amy Ryan, Nell Kendall. Producer, Mona Brien. "The Lovely Miracle," by. Philip John80tt Presented by the Pioneer Club Drama Circle.—Cast: The Mother, . Gertrude Perry; the Daughter, Ellen Lea; the Neighbour, Daisy Isaacs; the Young Man, Vurnclfc Ross. „,',,.„, "There is no Return," by Eric Bradwell (original play by New Zealand author). Presented by The Thespians.— Cast: Philip Forrester, E. R. Render; Anne (his wife). Florence Render; Judith and Gerald (their children), Joan. Poweil, Myles Wright;.-Roddy, Reg. Larkin. Producer, Raleh Hogg.