DRAMA LEAGUE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 234, 15 September 1934, Page 14

DRAMA LEAGUE

Annual Festival in Hastings

FINE ENTERTAINMENT

The third and concluding session of the H.B. Drama League Festival, held in the Assembly Hall at Hastings, took place last evening when the largest audience of the season was present.

Many had been to each session, but the final one had a special thrill when nil eagerly awaited the judge’s decisions. Each evening the beautiful speaking voice of Alias Kiore King has charmed everyone, her sympathy, understanding and thoughtfulness have been shown in her criticisms. These will be of the greatest help and undoubtedly will do much to improve the standard of production. It's the little things that count, and , neglect of small details seriously affects many a play. By past experience Miss Kin;; knows exactly how the players feel and her kindly help, advice, and straight-from-the-shoulder method of pointing out faults have endeared ; her to both players and the public I generally. Her criticisms have been ■ appreciated by all, and those concern- ! ed in the festival consider themselves lucky to have had Miss King as judge , The audiences, too, have been helped, and a finer appreciation of theatrical art should follow. The audiences are to be commended also on their restraint.

The audiences have also had the pleasure of hearing another clear and well produced speaking voice each evening, when Mrs W. A. Whitlock, a vicepresident of the H.B. Drama League, announced play titles and their authors, characters, cast and scenes. Throughout the season delightful overtures and items between plays have been rendered by an orchestra under Miss Mary Collins. Prior to the speeches Mrs W. A. Whitlock, on behalf of the H.B. Drama League committee, nresented Miss King with a handsome bouquet. Mrs Whitlock wore a very becoming frock of lime yellow georgette. A shoulder spray of natural sweet peas was a pretty finish to the corsage. Miss King wore a frock of garnet velvet fashioned with cowl draped corsage and smart sleeves with puffed elbows.

During the season the following have been present: Mr and Mrs G. Rochfort, Mr C. Duff (president) and Mrs Duff. Mr and Mrs H. W. C. Baird, Mr and Mrs C. J. Baker (Haumoana), Mr and Mrs W. A. Whitlock. Mr and Mrs H. Browning, Mrs Wright and Miss Zita Wright, Mrs and Miss Ballantyne, Mr and Mrs W, E. Bate, Colonel and Mrs Nielson (Haumoana), Mr and Mrs H. 8. Moss, Mr and Mrs J. 0. Kelsey, Mr and Mrs Ted Ormond, Mr and Mrs A. E. O’Meara, Mr and Mrs C. Hendry, Mesdames Glenny, Gatenby and Seeker (Haumoana), P. Canning (Waipukurau), V. Hoadley, Lovell-Smith, W. J. Whyte, Laurence, Chapman-Taylor, F. S. Budd. Maitland, Curlett, Satchell, Misses M. Rainbow, Ford, Pat Wood, M. Thompson, Aitchison, M. and F. Duff, M. Hawthorne, D. Symonds, K. Roulston, Z. Fryer, Ritchie. Messrs E. ,T. Herrick (patron), Luxford, McPhail, Harding, Sutro, A. Holland (secretary), D. Hursthouse. From Napier there has been a record attendance, including: Mr and Mrs C. D. Brown, Mr and Mrs W. P. Mitchell, Mr and Mrs Tattersail, Mr and Mrs Leo Bestall, Mr and Mrs A. Renouf, Mr and Mrs Johnston, Mr and Mrs G. B. Menzies, Mr and Mrs Nash, Dr, and Mrs S. Scoullar, Mr and Mrs S. P. Spiller, Mr and Mrs W. Wood, Mrs W. Hannah and Miss Hannah, Mrs P. G. Lewis and Miss Lewis, Mr and Mrs J. Harris (Clive), Mr and Mrs G. Madigan, Mr and Mrs F, S. Byrne (Puketapu), Mesdames E. A. W. Henley, 8. H. Hindmarah, E. H. T. Dunn, G. E. Waterworth, D. Bowland, A. Dixon, Kennedy (Nelson), H. H. Barnet, W. T. Foster, R. M. Chadwick, Costello, F. N. Harvey, Misses U. and Z. Williams (Bishopscourt), Nora Gleeson, Cunningham (3), E. McKay, Hansard, N. Harvey, I. Bate, B. Bradley, 0. Dixon, Gallagher, 8. Williams, B. Renouf, Joan Gardner, June Humphries, Brinson, J. Ruddock, B. Hannah, E. Loudoun, L. Cornford. Messrs Hale Spencer, Alex Cunningham, J. Benson, J. Mcßae, J. Tattcrsall, W. Bain, R. Kennedy, L. Jowett, J. Stephenson, R. B. Chadwick.