HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 12, 14 July 1939, Page 14

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

DRAMA TODAY

"INFLUENCE !N OUR LIVES"

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

Some aspects of modern drama, which, though of considerable interest to a rapidlj increasing section of the community, have as yet received but little comment, were dealt with on Tuesday afternoon by Mrs. Craig MacKenzie in an address to the MoeraWaiwhetu branch of the League of Mothers.

Remarking upon the extraordinary attraction that drama has for so many people who have little opportunity to study it, Mrs. MacKenzie touched on the different forms in which it exists today—in professional and amateur productions, screen plays, and in book form—and dealt in detail with some aspects which should be considered, particularly by amateurs and associations, in which, like the audience she was addressing, the time and opportunities for the study of drama were reeessarily limited.

Acting oneself, she said, and trying to project oneself into the character and personality of'the part one was playing was valuable in itself as an attempt to gain understanding of other people's motives and points of view. If any.amateur taking part in a play got that much from it it was something very valuable indeed.

"THE PLAY'S THE THING."

A faithful portrayal was very often spoilt, however, by the self-conscious-ness of the player which etracted to that extent from the ideal performance. This could be largely overcome by the: whole cast working together in team spirit and viewing the play as a whole and not a collection of individual efforts. "That is why people who take the small parts are so important," remarked the speaker. "It 'does not matter what part you are playing as long as you have the attitude right." . Extending the simile, she stated that it was impossible for the principal players to "score" unless the others "fed the ball" to them.

Another attractive feature of acting was the opportunity it gave for getting outside one's own home and environment and entering for a time into another world. In that way it was a development of a natural instinct which could be so clearly seen in" children—one might well call it the atmosphere of "let's pretend."

HELP TO UNDERSTANDING.

Remarking that the theatre today was a tremendous influence in our lives and one which offered ideal means for propaganda purposes, Mrs. MacKenzie •went on to outline its origin in Greece, where plays formed a part of religious festivals.

Among modern playwrights, G. B.Shaw was one of the foremost to use drama to make people think about things that they normally turned their backs upon in everyday life. Another type, not concerned with teaching but with interpretation, was based on the lives of great people. Most playwrights in portraying historical characters tried *o present their human side, often basing the theme of the play on conflicting loyalties such as is illustrated by Drinkwater's "Abraham Lincoln," where his loyalty to his country through war is in direct contrast to his sympathy with his people in their desire for peace. In this way. concluded Mrs. MacKenzie, drama should help us to see both sides of a question nd should aid us in clarifying our ideas:6n important points.

A warm vote of thanks, proposed by the president, Mrs L. Hayton, was accorded to the speaker.

Mrs. H. H. Cornish, provincial president of the league, also attended the meeting, and spoke briefly on the work and organisation of the league. The choir, under the leadership of Mrs. D. Wedekind, sang two glees.

Mothers' Club Entertains,

With the combination of an energetic committee and excellent teamwork of members, the annual dance given by the Mothers' Club of the Petone Free Kindergarten last night was a highly successful function. The social hall of the Working Men's Club was filled to capacity, and looked particularly attractive with decorative streamers of royal blue and orange— the kindergarten's colours —and myriad clusters of gaily-hued balloons. The dance' music supplied by a fine orchestra and a home-made supper provided by the members of the club were outstanding features which contributed largely to a most enjoyable occasion. Guests of i honour present were Mrs. Phillips (Wellington Kindergarten Council), Mrs. V. V. Vinsen and Mrs. J. C. Burns (Petone Free Kindergarten committee), and Mrs. B. Hutchinson (United Mothers' Club). The dance committee comprised Mrs. T. Milburn (president), Mrs. W. Reesby (secretary); and G. Laird, R. Leslie, H. Winnie, V." Bennett, Lindop, Smith, F. Battock, Martin, and R. Manning.

Labour Party Concert.

A crowded house of over 250 people witnessed an "excellent concert presented on Wednesday night in St. James's Hall by the Lower Hutt branch of the Labour Party. The organisation of the concert was in the hands of Mr. J. Taylor, assisted by Mrs. N. Gardner and Mr. F. Patterson, and the wide range of the programme included .items by performers from all parts of the Hutt Valley and Wellington. The stage manager was Mr. Brian O'Brien.

Opening with a "galaxy" overture by Bolton's orchestra, the programme continued with humorous impersonations by Mrs. C. Dixon, songs by Miss Maureen Hickford, Mr. B. Lang, and Mr. B. O'Brien, monologues by Mrs Craig MacKenzie, and skipping and acrobatic dances by Jean Alexander and Heather Wright to the final item of the first half, the play -'Anti-Clock-wise," presented by members of the T.iv*abeth McConibs Club. This was produced by Miss N. Bradstock with Mr. V. Howarth as stage manager, the players being Mesdames K. Baxter, N. Grace, R. Mitchell, and Mr. J. Shepherd.

The second half of the programme included vocal items by Mr. B. Hickford and Miss M. Hickford (duets), Bolton's Orchestra (quartet), Mrs. N. Gardner and Mr. B. Hickford (solos), ventriloquial items by Mr. H. Burridge. a tap-duo by the Misses Heather and Margaret Wright, a saxophone solo by Mr. H. Bolton, and elocutionary items by Mr. Gordon Windsor. The stage setting and lighting were particularly effective, huge bowls of vivid Iceland poppies and massed greenery being thrown into high relief by the footlights against constrasting curtains and hangings of deep Mary blue. Mr Taylor's thanks to the performers and all who assisted in .making the concert such an undoubted success were warmly endorsed by an enthusiastic audience.

• If you like buttercups under your chin and around your wrists there are enamelled blossoms and leaves that make a faint bell-like tinkle in a matching necklace and bracelet set.

Black goves tend to go white at the tips of the fingers owing to friction. Mix small quantities of olive oil and ink. and apply with a feather or small brush.