COMMUNITY DRAMA

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 230, 14 September 1935, Page 14

COMMUNITY DRAMA

League Movement Abroad MISS BLAKE’S IMPRESSIONS "There is no doubt that the modern theatre movement is making great progress," remarked Miss Elizabeth Blake, founder of the British Drama League in New- Zealand, who returned to the Dominion last week after a tour of England and America for the purpose of studying the latest developments in the trend of dramatic work. With a considerable experience of the professional and amateur stage in England, where she ran her own company successfully for eight years, Miss Blake, who has also judged at drama festivals, is well qualified to speak with authority upon stage craft and its art. "The one thing that gives the British Drama League its driving force and validity is its insistence on spiritual values,” she declared with evident conviction. While in England she saw between GO and 70 shows —sometimes seven or eight a week. She had been impressed by the high standard of acting and production efficiency, but she did not think the plays measured up to the merit given in production. They were what might be termed, in most instances, clever or “slick,” but without much body or point. “Probably the best four performances I had the honour to enjoy abroad were Van Druten’s ‘The Distaff Side,' with Sybil Thorndike in the lead, at the New Theatre in New York, Flora Robson in ‘Mary Read,’ John Gielgud in his production, ‘Hamlet,’ and the same star in ‘Noah,’ the translation from the French. Gielgud’s Hamlet was the best seen for 25 years, and it was a huge success. ’ ’ Miss Blake said she had a very interesting time at Pasadena in the Community Playhouse, which is recognised as one of the best student schools in America and has an international name. During her visit there was running a special Shakespearean festival, in the course of which was presented every history play written by the Bard of Avon. The production work was done by the four theatrical companies connected with the institution. Miss Blake lectured at the school and found the festival students from all parts of the States very enthusiastic and appreciative. In reply to a question this Somersetborn New Zealander, who, in private life is Mrs Stanley Natusch, of Wellington, said that at present there was no i organisation in America on a parallel with the British Drama League, but she had found that Mr Gilmour Brown, pre- . sident of the National Theatre Conference, was very keen to hear all about , the British movement and to start ; something similar in that country. For that reason he had since gone to Eng- , land to confer with the headquarters executive of the Drama League. Miss Blake was delighted to hear of j the prosperity of the work in New Zea- , land. She hinted that she had been ap- j proached by Australian supporters of ( the British Drama League in London j with regard to making a special visit to a Australia at an early date. j