WOMEN’S INSTITUTES HOLD ANNUAL DRAMA FESTIVAL

Grey River Argus, 29 September 1949, Page 3

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES HOLD ANNUAL DRAMA FESTIVAL

Blaketown Institute was placed first iu a drama festival, held yesterday afternoon and last night by the West Coast Federation of Women’s Institutes, at the Lyceum Hall, Greymouth. Blaketown institute was presented with a cup and the second team, that of Runanga Institute, was given a. crystal vase. Six Institutes entered the festival which was judged by 4 Mr B. J. Dunne, of Christchurch. Mr Dunne awarded Blaketown 85 points and Runanga 81. Criticising the performances, Mr Dunne said the winning team’s play caught the atmosphere from the start the play being “Little Glass Houses” by Phillip Johnson. It did not feature “stars” in that more attention was not given to one player than to another. Mr Dunne praised Mrs Thomas's performance and said her outstanding characterisation was given a “real professional touch. The fans were used to good effect, and it was pleasing to watch the correct movements and gestures of the players, he added RUNANGA’S GOOD START The Runanga team went off with a good bang, continued Mr Dunne. The play “The World Without Men” by Phillip Johnson, was excellently cast and the portrayals were very convincing. He spoke of the fine light and shade of Mrs N. Grogan’s voice, and added that she had a good sense of the dramatic. Mrs N. Cairnew was well cast and achieved much with a difficult role. He had seen the same role played in other centres and her performance had more than equalled previous impressions.

Referring to period plays, which were popular with local dramatic groups, Mr Dunne said that because they were sedate in movement and style ,it did not mean that players should be slow in taking up cues, as several had been. He warned performers against turning their backs on the audience and of the need for correct delivery of dialogue, so that all in the audience could hear as easily as those on stage. Commenting on general standard of the acting, Mr Dunne said it was almost as high as any he had judged in cities.

Among the entries, the first play “Ficin Five to Five-Thirty” was by Otira Institute. Mrs Lee gave full reign to her humour which pleased because of its spontaniety and her gestures and facial expressions were effective. Mrs Mac Lon acted a difficult role capably, but at times her lines were spoken too slowly. Mrs Haines and Miss Cleavetop were convincing as proud “respectable” daughters, and Mrs Cleavetop, as a spendthrift mother, provided amusement.

In the “Little Glass Houses (Blaketown) chief honours went to Mrs Thomas, who, as a theme of malicious social gossip, proved herself as a skillful actress, time and again adding tension by slight gestures and movements of her eyes. Mrs Innes as a domineering mother, relished the role. Her actions earned -attention as well as spicy dialogue. Mesdames McKee and West as “society queens’’ were also outstanding. Praise Is deserved for the choice of costumes and scenery, which, although bare, contained the atmosphere of a 19th Century drawingroom.

In “Window Pains”, a comedy by the Dunollie branch, the most prominent performance was given by Mrs Hambly, with a pleasing characterisation of a “Mrs Know-all,” proving her ability in acting dual roles. Mrs Harrington and Mrs Leach, as her two daughters, played equally well and Mesdames Paterson, Scullion and Boote were also successful.