DUNEDIN REPERTORY SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 23564, 1 May 1940, Page 10

DUNEDIN REPERTORY SOCIETY

SOCIAL EVEHING Monday's social evening must be classed as one of the outstanding successes of a long line of diversified socials ottered to its members by the Dunedin Repertory Society. The evening was doubly delightful, in that one could not decide.who enjoyed it most — the audience or the cast —as one long ripple of merriment greeted the clever sallies from the stage, with which ' The Middle Watch,' a romance of the navy in three acts, by lan Hay and Stephen King-Hall, is crammed full. The cast was such a thoroughly good all-round one that it would be difficult to select any for special mention, but among the ladies Miss Anita Winkel- was perfectly "delightful in her portrayal of the American girl, Mary Carlton. Her scenes' with Captain Maitland (Jock Hay r ward), who, by the way, looked the part to perfection, were amongst the most enjoyable in the play. Another very well-sustained character was that of Ah Fong, the Chinese servant, as portrayed by C. Russell Smith. Others taking part were John Gordon, who provided excellent comedy in the part pf Marine Ogg, ably supported by Leslie Dunbar as Corporal . Duckett, Harold Robinson as Captain Randall, Roland Watson as Commander Baddeley, Douglas Skene as Admiral Sir Hercules Hewitt, K.C.8., whose dignity was at times sadly outraged, and David Silverstone as an able seaman. Among the ladies very good work was done by Edna Lungley as Charlotte Hopkinson, a ehaperone whose services were not required, Kathleen Falconer, Norma Brown, and Elsie M'Peak. The play was produced under the very able supervision of Miss Winkel, who carried the task through with apparently little effort—the test of good workmanship. The decorations in the hall of bright ixias and dahlias, with bowls of early chrysanthemums, were very artistic. The president, Mrs Richard Hudson, specially thanked all those who helped to make the evening 60 enjoyable. Supper was served with great despatch, no mean task for the social committee, for an audience of such large dimensions, and ail' hour's dancing concluded a very successful evening.