DUNEDIN REPERTORY SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 22688, 30 June 1937, Page 17

DUNEDIN REPERTORY SOCIETY

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL EVENING The monthly meeting of the Repertory Society was held in the Concert Chamber on Monday evening, when a large number of members and friends gathered to enjoy the three one-act plays presented for their entertainment. Mr A. G. Smith, in his remarks, apologised for the regrettable, but unavoidable, circumstances which had caused delay in the presentation of the society’s next major production, ‘ Libel.’ which could not be staged in His Majesty’s Theatre until August 4-7. Members were reminded that the British Drama Festival commences on July 14. The following members have been appointed to the Social Committee in charge of supper arrangements:— Mi's E. T. Holler (convener), with Mesdames A. A. Fairbairn, John Hamer, and Miss Noeline Parker as her committee. The second terms of the acting classes under the . direction of Miss Bessie Thomson have commenced, and intending members were advised to join up at an early date. Miss Thomson has once again been appointed producer for the society’s major productions. Three plays were then presented. The first was ‘ All Night Service,’ by Bernard Mernvale, produced by Miss Florence Pacey. The cast was a well-balanced one, consisting of member's of the drama class, some of whom made their first appearance in public in this play. They all gave very pleasing performances and displayed careful training. The cast was as follows: —Ann White, Leila Greenall; Jill Watson, Noma Bain; Molly Hensloe, Edith Clare; Miss Mitten, Betty Gilchrist; Mrs Hubbard, Mina Anderson; Miss Clayton, Vera Hamilton; a policewoman, Margaret M'Olay. The second play, a comedy by Walter Hudd, entitled ‘ln Vina Veritas,’ was produced by Mrs John Hamer. The honours were divided between the producer and her cast of three, all of whom contributed to the success of the play. The cast was:—Susan, Florence Pacey ; Oakley, Pat Strachan; Nigel, Dick Nancanrow.

In introducing the third and last play for the evening, ‘ Cupid Rampart,’ by Percy Corry, Mr A. C. Stephens, the producer, explained that the play was a fantastic comedy supposedly written to “ give an idea of marriage as it could be in 1970.” The costuming of futuristic design was very effective, arid care had been given to detail. The cast was an excellent one, and kept its audience in good humour until the climax. Cast:—Unmarried female, Betty Rhodes; unmarried male, Pat Jacques; controller of creche, Maiona Juriss; Sergent Registrar, Bill Matthews; orderly, J. Sealy. Supper was served under the direction of Mrs E. T. Moller and her very efficient band of helpers, who managed to serve the large number of people in a remarkably short time. The hall was then cleared for the customary hour of dancing. Among the guests for the evening was Miss Elizabeth Loe, drama tutor for the British Drama League.

charming * atmosphere when she came before the curtain in a costume of black and silver, and, while singing ‘ Violets ’ in her most attractive manner, threw bunches of these sweet-smelling flowers from a basket on her arm, to the audience. Another scene in contrast was that of the Hinton Sisters in their tap dance act, in which they wear tunics of black velvet, richly embroidered and finished by accordion-pleated frills of green at the neck and round the arms, which flutter alluringly as these clever dancers work up to their climax. ‘ Vineyard of Girls ’ was a scene in which colour had been used with marvellous effect against a background of glittering tinsel. All the colours of tho luscious grape were introduced in lovely hooped gowns, with elaborate headdresses of grapes and leaves, while girls in befrilled ankle-length capes in pastel shades of blue and rose added a colour note, that was most attractive. In this scene Ha Cha San appeared as tho Golden Goddess, clad only in a coat of glittering gold paint. 1 A Chinese Fantasy,’ with its wealth of colour—all the costumes in this being brought from tho Orient—was another highly spectacular scene. Tho embroideries on these Chinese draperies were delightful to behold, and all the accessories, even to the Chinese shoes, correct as to detail. ‘ln a Frame 1 was responsible for beautiful old world "owns, hooped and swaying to tho rhythm of the dancers, and ornamented with appliquecl designs in colours and silver that made a charming background for the white and silver minuet by the Bernay duo and for the dancing of Sylvia Lee, the fairy. ‘ Tho Land of Jade,’ too was another scene of splendour, almost impossible to describe, with its softly shaded tones of green, concluding with the clever dancing of Sharon de Vries as tho Priestess of the Temple. Tho climax of spectacular effect was reached, however, m ‘The Masquerade,’ where against a lovely, glittering background of tinsel the final tableau was presented with girls in crinolines of beautifully-blended shades of blue, gold, green, and maroon, and glittering with sequins forming a lovely setting to tho Bat Dance, where black velvet dominoes were whirled sometimes to display and sometimes to hide the girls in their brief spangles, who danced with their partner Masson. The final scene. ‘ In An Orange Grove,’ introduced most unusual features, the whole company appearing in costumes _ of bright orange or green satin, against a background of grass and orange trees laden with fruit. Tho drop-cur-tain for this scene was most interesting, and made of cellophane cloth, untoarable, and just tho latest thing from New York. It is transparent, giving to the stage beyond a soft, blurred effect, and in this case the whole curtain was tufted with spots of green chenille. This unusual material was used most effectively, too, for puffed sleeves and frilled capes for the orange and green Looked girls. At the final tableau a most spectacular effect was produced when every orange was lit to become a ball of dazzling Tight, and in the foreground cases of oranges, Jit up in the most unexpected manner. ,