WRITERS AND ARTISTS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 123, 20 November 1935, Page 17

WRITERS AND ARTISTS

EVENING AT LYCEUM CLUB

The attractive cream and amber lounge of the Lyceum Club was gay with flowers last evening when the Writers' and Artists' Society held its final gathering for this y.ear. Stands of native foliage and bowls of Iceland poppies and marigolds were placed about the room where comfortable chairs and couches were arranged with pleasing informality. Upon the dais were large bowls of foxgloves and arum lilies.

Members and their friends, of whom there was a large number present, were welcomed by Mrs. J. C. Andersen (president), who wore a gown of navy blue satin. Mrs. Andersen, in referring to the society's successful season, said she thought the spadework was over and that a brighter outlook awaited the writers of the Dominion. She thought that "Authors' Week" to be held early in 1936, would

do 'much towards developing an interest in New Zealand literature. Mrs. Andersen spoke in warm terms of the untiring work of the secretary, Miss Nellie Donovan, who had given unstinted service since the inception of the society.

...The programme for the evening had been planned by Miss Catherine Keddell, who, with Mr. Keesing and Mrs. A. S. Farquhar, judged the junior play-writing competition arranged by the Wellington Area of the British Drama League. Miss Keddell (wearing a dainty frock of grey and rosepatterned georgette with a corsage spray of roses) spoke most interestingly of play-writing, and readings of the first-placed plays in the contest were given by request, Miss Keddell introducing Miss Lesley Jackson, who wrote the prize-winning play, entitled "Beauty."

The results of the recent playwriting competition of the Writers' Society were also announced by Miss Keddell, who judged the work. The general standard of the entries, she said, was disappointingly low. There were some exceptionally good plays submitted, but the majority showed little sense of stagecraft or technique. The prize-winning play, "Unto Eternity," was written by Mrs. Joye Taylor. "The Man Called John," by E. M. Doust (Auckland) was second, and "Princess Snowflake," by Madame Bligh (Wellington), third.

Between readings, original sonss were sung by Miss Iris Eggers. They were "Visions," the words of which were written by Mrs. O. M. Igglesden and the music by Mrs. Joye Taylor, and "Seabirds," "Sleeping Thoughts," and "The "Dewdrop," of which both words and music were written by Mrs. Taylor who also played the accompaniments.

The plays read were "Out of the Land Cometh" by Miss E. Finlayson (Masterton), "Crown Hill" by Marie Blomfleld (Auckland), and "The Man Called John" by E. M. Doust (Auckland). Those'who took part were Mrs. Lyon, Madame Bligh, Miss N. Donovan, Miss C. Keddell, and Messrs. P. Keesing, G. T. Saker, E. North, and R. Porter.