TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1937, Page 4

TECHNICAL SCHOOL

DRAMA CLUB’S PERFORMANCE. At Wednesday night’s premiere of the Greymouth Technical High School Drama Club, the performers recaptured the atmosphere of the Shakespearean period; brought back the shape, speech and spirit of the Bronte sisters; and then after a swift black-out transported the audience forward to present day dramatic mystery and thrill. A large crowd of pupils and their adult and youthful friends reacted magnificently to the splendid fare provide, and throughout the evening there were tense silences alternated with bursts of merriment. Mrs. F. M. Smyth was responsible for the productions, costuming, and presentation, and her weeks of work were well rewarded by the finished result which was a credit to all concerned. In the first piece, “The Final Rehersal,” Nance McKane gave an intelligent and well conceived portrayal of Mrs. Cornell, whose difficulties were caused by the nonchalance and independence of Shirley Sandman, Sabne Nicholson and Ngaire Moor?, characters in an amateur play, which Mrs. Cornell endeavoured to rehearse. Eliza (a maid) played ’by Miss Kathleen McDonald, caused laughable situations, by intruding remarks relative to the butcher, baker and local constable, the resulting dislocation of the dialogue thus brought about causing first class comedy. A highly meritorious performance. The sweet and simple picture of the family life of the Bronte sisters, Charlotte, Ann and Emily (played respectively by Jacqueline Reeves, Kit Learmont and Molly Barrowman) was much appreciated, bringing out as it did the tense natures and high talent of those artistic and high souled sisters. Emily wore an old wine costume, while . Anne was garbed in lavender and old lace, and Charlotte in saxe blue —all fashioned in the full and flowing mode of the Brontes and their times. The effort resulted in a moving and impressive characterisation which showed the three girls’ instinct with genious, each in her particular sphere. A Shakespearean dialogue from “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” showed Shirley Sandman (Julia) in semiintimate converse with Lucetta (her maid). Both girls were admirably east, holding the audience interested throughout, as much by the spirited dialogue, as by the charming dresses and headgear, true in the minutest detail as to time and place. Julia wore a rich gown of purple velvet and gold satin with a head-dress, of cream lace. Lucetta’s was of pink satin-de-luxe with crossings of gold braid across the cream silk yoke. The head-dress worn by Lucetta was similar to Julia’s but of pink tulle. “The Age of Romance” carried a caste of four—Alice (a maid), .Margaret Airey; Jane Bagat (niece), Kathleen McDonald; Mrs. Knowle, a somewhat fussy but kind-hearted and loving mother, Vera Gilmore; and Melisande Knowle (daughter),. Helen White. Melisande is romantic with a soul above bread sauce; Mother insists that bread sauce and the cuisine generally are the sauces of life (and love); while Jane is neutral. The whole made a charming study, each character sustaining her role with ease and grace. Melisande soulfully sees through the window a world of dreams, and hates her nickname of “Sandy,” while Jane imperturbably sews and settles Ma’s cushions. Alice the maid moves about her duties with machine-like methods. All very skilfully taken from life, in fact a slice of life.

When “Shivering Shocks” was announced, the house was warm with appreciation for what had gone and expectation that the piece de resistance was yet to come. The house was not disappointed. It proved high class dramatic thriller, with mystery and comedy in sufficient measure to satisfy the most fastidious. The play went with a fine swing from the time that Kysh (the valet), Ronald Parry, left his crippled master (Captain Dallas, V.C.) until the crooks (Dawson and the Shepherd), Eric Nelson and lan MeEwin, were outwitted by Inspector James Pollock (Gordon Parry), who played a dual role. He rose to great heights in the characterisation of “Old Rowley,” the drunken cabby. Peter Hooper in the part of Granville Hughes, inventor, with his invention, is the centre of the plot; the work altogether called for sharpness, and swift action combined with smoothness. All these and more were achieved by most efficient players.