DRAMA FESTIVAL

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 November 1933, Page 2

DRAMA FESTIVAL

SOUTH TARANAKI INSTITUTES ONE-ACT PLAYS BY WOMEN. FINAL SESSION LAST EVENING. The final session of the drama festival conducted by the South Taranaki group of Women’s Institutes attracted a very large attendance at St. Joseph’s Hall, in Hawera, last evening, when four one-act plays were presented. The critics (Messrs C. Harrison and W. fe. Gibson) were agreed that a higher standard of work generally was evident among the players than at the previous evening’s session, when five plays were presented for criticism. The efforts of members of the institutes towards promoting a higher standard of dramatic appreciation and the development of the art of the stage again were commended, the institutes being warmly congratulated on the success of their initial festival.

Arrangements for the evening’s entertainment were supervised with the utmost efficiency by the festival committee, and, as on the opening night, valuable assistance was given by Mr. W. G. Simpson, who acted as stage manager, and by Mis-s I). Bryant and Mr. R. S. Alhvright, make-up artists, and Messrs T. M. Elliis, F. Kendall and A. W. Lawn, who had charge at the doors. . The overture 1 ‘Thrills and Kisses was played by Mrs. A. K. Fyson’s orchestra, and entr’acte and numbers also were contributed. • The plays were presented in the following order: “MR. JOHN.” Played by members of the Wliareroa Institute. Miss Patricia (elderly gentlewoman) Mrs. E'. Meuli. Mary (her servant) ... Mrs. G. Tozer. Miss Rosie Gibbs (a flapper) ... Miss A. Hicks. Miss Fanny Wilkins (lady of uncertain age) Mrs. W. Nicholas. Miss Hypatia Brown (a dramatic young lady) Miss G. Reynolds. Josephine (a lady of determination) ... Miss Z. George. Angela (Mr John’s fiancee) ... Miss P Maule.

In this play the curtain rises on a scene in Miss Patricia’s flat and the story concerns the action of her nephew John, who, on bearing of bis broken engagement, sets about to prove that all women are fickle. He invites Ifour strange women, representing distinctly different types, to meet at his aunt’s flat. The scheme makes itself apparent to three of the women who arrive eurly and they band, together for revenge, with hilarious consequences when the fourth woman arrives dressed as a man and is taken for John. . . . < In the opinion of the critics Miss Patricia was a splendid impersonation qnd the player’% voice and enunciation carried the story “across” to the audience very clearly, with a. complete \ understanding of her nephew, who was not represented oh the stage. Mary, her servant did not have a, great deal to do, but what she had to do was done well. -Rosie portrayed a certain type of modern young lady and the part was played excellently, with a proper conception of the comedy. Fanny, the -shy woman, was appropriately shy and the character was well represented. Hypatia, the dramatic young lady, performed her small dramatic parts nicely, while Josephine, the mannish young lady, gave about the best male impersonation of the festival. Angela (John’s fiancee) had a small part. The critics considered that the production was not level all through and that it would have been an advantage if the players had worked up to the climax at each entrance. As it was, good team work and an appreciation of what the author intended to convey resulted m quite a successful climax.

“SMOKE SCREENS.” (By Harold Brighouse.)

Placed by members of the Turi Township Institute. Mrs. Merridew Mrs. Villars. Primrose Aston Mrs. Oressey. Lucy Aston Miss D. Corrigan Clarice Mrs. Kendall. A handsomely-appointed sitting-room scene in the flat of Lucy Aston and the story of a successful businesswoman in the taxi-cab business, who comes to admit that she has “brought up taxi-cabs instead of her own daughter.” Divorced, she describes her former husband as a rotter, and Lucy, daughter of the unsuccessful marriage, lives the life of a “flinty-hearted golddigger,” much to the concern of her Victorian aunt, until love for an ugly man changes her whole existence.

1 111 the opinion of the critics this I performance ivas the best of the series. Dress, make-up and cast were “just right,” and the. players lived their parts from curtain to curtain, and put across their emotions very well. The scene at curtain-rise was the prettiest of the festival, but it was unfortunate that the back curtain remained parted slightly and allowed people at the back of the stage t-o be seen moving about. The part of Mrs Merridew was a delightful piece of characterisation and her words were spoken well to the front. In the case of Lucy Aston prevous experience of stage work was evident and the part was played exceedingly well. Primrose was played very pleasingly up to a point, when she became a little too dramatic. Despite this, however, the audience was treated to a piece of fine acting. Clarice wa.s very well interpreted by one who gave evidence of her previous experience in stage work. “I’M SORRY—ITS’ OUT.” (By Gertrude Jennings.) Produced by Mrs Irwin Jones and played by members of the Patea Institute. Miss Phillips (library assistant) ... Mrs Maxwell. Miss Jones (library assistant) ... Miss I B. McCarty. . [ “Inkermau” (subscriber) ... Miss M. Hamerton. I “Balaclava” (subscriber) ... Miss F. Hemingway. “The Nest” (subscriber) ... Miss O'. Adams. Mrs Crawford (old lady) ... Mies M. Gibbinga. : Elfrida (grand-daughter) ... Miss J. I Spurdle. j Scene: A circulating library in a seaside town. j I Both librarians make no secret of' 1 the fact that they utterly dislike their work, one longing for the 6unshine of, the Brighton parade and the other de- |

sirious of marriage. Nevertheless they go about their routine and attend to the wants of a- handful of subscribers, each representing a different type of wpman. Mrs Crawford is one of them, and she has the habit of returning her books with letters and such like between the leaves. Miss Phillips discovers a £lO note which she purloins. The story at this stage has a number of disconcerting twists until Miss Phillips confesses and is forgiven. “In this play we had a typical library scene and some clever character studies in a small way,” said the critics. Miss Phillips had a good voice, but the part was played a little too si owl v at the start. When she found the £lO note the act of purloining it was not very evident, and if the audience did not see the money taken it lost one of the main points of the play. Miss Jones was played exceedingly well towards the end, when her expression was quit© vivacious. The three subscribers were all good character studies, the flapper speaking well and possessing good facial expression and a marked sense of comedy. •Mrs Crawford, in the critics’ opinion, i should have been relayed by a much older person. Tu the case of Elfridathe player in this role showed her interest- in the part, and with more experience should go quite a long way in dramatic work.

“ME AND MY DIARY.” (By Gertrude Jennings.) Played by members of the Turuturu Institute. Ladv Adele Boxgrove Mrs R. Wilton. Patience Marlowe ... Miss Exley (substitute for Mrs A. E. Mcßwen). Hon. Mrs Cheneys ... Mrs R. Meharry Phyllis Awkwright Miss P. Walsdorf. Miss Tibbits Miss A. Shannon. Mr Humphrey Woods Miss A. Appleyard (substitute for Mrs W. H. James). A scene in the library of Lady Boxgrove, whose lately published diary has caused very great concern among intimate friends and others. Some have had of their private lives revealed and threaten action for libel, and others have not been mentioned at all, to their great disappointment.

The critics said it was unfortunate that two members of the cast had taken ill at the last minute, and l they paid tribute to the excellent performances given by the substitute players. The young lady in the part of Mr Humphrey Woods was very plucky indeed to dress up in man’s clothes and read her lines as well as she had done. In the circumstances an excellent performance was given. The part of Lady Boxgrove wa,s carried through very well, although nervousness at the start was evidenced by the manner in which she paced the stage and the movement of her hands, which appeared to be a worry to her. Nevertheless the character portrayed was a strong character and her voice was pleasing. Phyllis Awkwright, Lady Boxgrove’s secretary, gave a very good performance and her exits and entrances were well done. Both the Hon. Mrs Cheneys and Miss Tibbits were faithful character studies.

“Cat’s Claws” (Okaiawa Institute) was not presented owing to a bereavement in the family of a member of the cast.

At the conclusion of the critics’ remarks Mr Simpson spoke on behalf of the institutes and thanked the public for its splendid support and also all those who had assisted in any way to ensure the success of the venture. Proceedings terminated with the singing of the National Anthem.