PLURKET BENEFIT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1932, Page 4

PLURKET BENEFIT

THE PATCHWORK QUILT AND THE CASTAWAY.

A , well-filljd theatre: greeted the performance of the two o-e-uct . pLys and the additional items that comprised the programme at the Princess Theatre lae»- n.ght. The production on the whole was well put over, and thii audieaoe showed 1 its appreciation by well-merited epplaui'e. If anything the programme erred in bang a little short) and a feiw 'additional itdihs or a .furtherp short play could have been introduced with advantage. . A number of tue pea-fbnfiemTwere making their first appearance on vd Hokitika stage, and thtf'prodlueer (Mr W. E. Brown) is to her [congratulated on

discovering sou® new- talent who show distinct promise.The first play The Patchwork Quilt, a fantasy by' flh.' L, Field, was ji new departure from - the inevitable cbm-\ edies, that usually comprise . amateur ‘ performances. The -; production . was perhaps a little ambitious for a play ’

lending itself to numerous stage and lighting effects, but ab good effort was

made in that, direction. The story

weaves round -the ’efforts of ia busi-

ness fiian and hiswife to find out' the

location of the diced of “the old farm.”

They cross-question the old grandmother without suocees, while actually the secret ia .wrapped up in the patchwork quilt, which, they take from the old ladj/ becauito lief wandlering' roihd is unable to concentrate on [anything else, As the grandmother (Mrs Mrs H, J, Knighty was well-castedi Her chaivuJterjsfttiori was one oi the best perfonr..anclss |een on the Jowl stage for a considerable time, and although at times her u words were a i little difficult to foilbw, she certainly made the most of -the part. The parts of the married couple' (Mr and Mrs Wendell) were taken by Mr C; Warren and Mrs J. Mclntyre, and they both acquitted themselves well on . their first efforts oh the local stage. ’ Miss Cora Lynn took ,n dual pari of Betty ’ Wendell and of Emily in the fantasy, depicting the early life of Mr§ Willis, and the parts wCre capably,"acted. A further scenj in. the fantasy was a bridal one, in which the missing deed was handed over. MrJ. Renton and Mrs W. E. Brown as thedindegroorii and bride enhanced q pretty scene, and the latter effected a rapid , change to come oii a few moments. Jatp as the same lady several 'years later. Both the parts were well taken.

j The other play, was comedy .by, W. W. Jacobs and H. C. Sargent, The Castaway, and describes the homecoming of a sailor to find a mysterious boarder, in possesion, who pays his rent when tlie stars are “propitious,” As Mrs . Boxer, , Mrs J. L. Menzies made an effective' first appearance. Miss Anne P. Duff is well known to local audiences buM.er versatility waa never better demonstrated 1 than in. her portrayal of the sarcastic ’ ,3VJrh Gimpson, th© mother-in-law.;, Mr Boxer, the husband who returned, was in th* capable hands, of Mr J, L. Mgnzies, while the boarder who reads pictures in the magic bowl, was a new hpraier to the stage in the'person of Mr S, A. 0. Darby. Mr Darby -gave a very humorous touch to th? scenes in which he appeared, and his by-rplay with Mrs Gimpson was well done.

The remainder of the programme was made up of various sketches, songs and displays, Mr W. E. Brown, Dr. Childs and Miss Aune P. Duff scored three good hits in their . short sketches, in which the amusing climax was well disguised.. All three showed themselves thoroughly at home on the stage. • : ;■■■■■.:

Mi&sea McWhirter; J. Parkhill, H. Ridland, L. Saines, W. < Stevenson and F. Wells appeared!, in a ballet and in a dumbeil display" ■ They gave very

good performances and showed that a great deal of time had been put into the practices. ; . 'V

Mir C. Wright sang “The Fishermen, of England’’ with great zest and his item together with an orchestra under the charge of Mr Oes. Williams, who rendered several pleasing pieces, comprised the musical part of the programme. i- ■-"•:■■■ •' v

At the oondusion of the entertainment Dr. B. Wilson.'thanked the producer and the performers on behalf of the Plunket Society ,«to;whom the proceeds are to be devoted.