BRITISH DRAMA LEAGUE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 24 August 1935, Page 8

BRITISH DRAMA LEAGUE

adjudicator appointed SOUTH TARANAKI FESTIVAL The forthcoming festival of drama under the auspices of the South Taranaki area of the British Drama League will overshadow all previous festivals, both with regard to the number and quality of the plays to be produced.

In the senior section definite entries of the following productions have been received: The Upper Room; Lantern Light; Cul-de-Sac; screen scene from the “School of Scandal”; court and ring scenes' from “The Merchant of Venice;” Evening Dress Me and Me Roses; The Odd Streak; Love in an Ape House; A World Without Men; Bishop’s Candlesticks, from “Les Miserables”; “The Green Monkey.” Others are being rehearsed, and producers would do well to place their entries as early as possible. The junior section has six entries:—An Interlude in the Nursery ; -Phoebe Rebels; The Hiding Place; The Princess and the Pirate; The Dyspeptic Ogl’d and the Princess and the Woodcutter.

The duties of adjudicator have been entrusted to Professor W. A. Sewell, of University College, Auckland, a gentleman with wide experience of the drama, who has produced plays in South Africa and Auckland. He is also rvell known as a lecturer at schools of dramatic art, and the South Taranaki executive is extremely fortunate in se. curing the services of so notable a figure in dramatic circles as adjudicator j of its festival. j The judges for the national festival | to be held at Hastings on October 3 have been announced by headquarters, and are Miss Elizabeth Blake, Messrs. Arnold Goodwin and Paul Latham.

The festival of drama staged by the Women’s ' Institutes at Normanby on Wednesday last was the. means of bringing some promising performers before the public. In “At the Ribbon Counter,” both Miss Vera Allan and t Miss Pearl Gane gave a pleasing presentation, and with more experience should prove an asset to any group of play-readers. From “Aunt Penelope” more should be heard of Miss Jean Easton and Miss Elsie Ogle,

while producers should not iet the pleasing voice of Miss Marie 'Whitelofck be lost to drama. “Cat’s Claws” undoubtedly showed the work of a more experienced producer, and the character of Eva Adams was admirably played by Mrs G. Vi liars, whose presentation of the middle-aged, weal, thy woman of the world, resorting to any methods to obtain her ends, showed acting ability of no mean merit. Mrs Muir as the maid (Baker) and Miss Thomas as Lady Cecily, both did well in their parts; Lady Cecily gave one the impression that she knew all about what was to happen, and was not afc all surprised at Eva’s reason for asking her into her room before retiring. The voices of the players were very pleasing. The two plays presented by the visitors from the Norfolk Women’s Institute were both well performed and the masterly performance of Mrs Byrne in the character of Scrooge, from .“Christmas Carols,” was a fitting conclusion to a very pleasant evening’s entertainment. The next play-reading evening under the auspices of the area will be held on September 3, when three oneact plays will be read, for one of which the play-reading circle of the Women’s Club have kindly taken the responsibility. This item alone should ensure an enjoyable evening to those of the public who may plan to be present.