HASTINGS WOMEN’S CLUB

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 193, 30 July 1932, Page 10

HASTINGS WOMEN’S CLUB

INTERESTING) LECTURE. “MODERN DRAMA.” On Thursday last there were nearly 50 members at the literary circle of the Hastings Women’s Club to hear Miss Mackenzie give a lecture on “Drama.” The speaker, who was introduced and welcomed by Miss Fitzßoy, gave a most able address, which brought to those listening a wider perception and keener interest in the drama of to-day. Miss Mackenzie, in the course of her lecture, described the great influence drama can have on the minds of those who witness it, this being realised in Russia, where Government propaganda is broadcast by means, partly, of acting short plays in the streets. The dominant personality of Bernard Shaw was spoken of. Shaw, the speaker said, used his plays as propaganda but kept the audiences interested and amused by his keen wit and complete mastery of dramatic situations. An extract was read from Shaw’s historical play “St. Joan,” in which old-time characters speak in modern language. Barrie was brought before the members in a manner that revealed his delightful and whimsical personality, partly through reading a typical extract from “Dear Brutus” which illustrated Barrie’s change of mood from gay to sad, and hiq. fantastically simple way of bringing in that touch of pathos which so often lies behind his fun. Since the war many plays of social importance bring in questions of the moment; also historical plays are depicting clearly great characters of the past; and there are also plays introducing much witty modern dialogue which have been written by our modern dramatists. “The Anatomist,” a weirdly told story of an Edinburgh scientist, was one from which Miss Mackenzie read a realistic extract. These carefully selected illustrations were most stimulating and added greatly to the realism of the lecture as a whole. Miss Mackenzie said that Noel Coward and Frederick Lonsdale were brilliantly witty, gay, sparkling, and entertaining in their writing, and most people who go to the theatre to be amused enjoy their plays greatly. “Young Woodley” was another play mentioned, this being a problem play which has been discussed widely by those who saw it or read the book. ‘‘l cannot think of any reason why it should be banned,” said Miss Mackenzie. Edgar Wallace’s detective plays were also touched on, the speaker saying that maybe people in the generations to come would try to account for our present craze for detective stories.

Some day plays may possibly be produced wherein more than one scene is on the stage at a time, giving a sense of simultaneous action and cohesion of thought, as in Eugene O’Neil’s “Hairy Ape,” where the audience can see the passengers on a liner sitting about in smart dresses and talking together on deck, while the -engine-room below is also revealed and from there the stokers’ conversation on the same subject as that of the passengers is heard in the same act. Modern plays illustrate ideas rather than present a series of episodes, and it seems as if the play of the future will be the psychological play which already is coming to the fore.

It was a most interesting lecture and at the conclusion Miss Fitzßoy voiced the thoughts of everyone when she said what a great pleasure it had been to hear Miss Mackenzie speak, the whole address being of such outstanding interest that it was difficult to express adequate thanks. in response to a request from Mrs Lowry, Miss Mackenzie also recited very charmingly. Some of those present were: Mrs Lowry (president), Mrs H. Baird (leader of the literary circle), Mrs Lovell-Smith (hon. secretary), Mrs Christie (leader of the music circle),

Mrs Glenny (vice-president), Mrs IV. J. White, Mrs G. Davies, Mrs Rochfort, Mrs Seeker, Mrs Pufflett, Mrs FitzRoy, Mrs Ronald Williams, Miss FitzRoy, Mrs Maurice Chambers, Miss Adkins, Mrs Hull, Mrs IV. Macfarlane, Mrs H. Small, Miss Ford, Miss Dugleby, Miss A’Hearne, Mrs H. Harvey, Mrs Bates, and many more.