DRAMATIC CLUB

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4306, 19 July 1950, Page 5

DRAMATIC CLUB

PAEROA PRODUCTIONS

THREE ONE-ACT PLAYS

EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT / ’

July is the month of one-act plays at the festivals taking place throughout the country and although owing to lack of a suitable hall there can be no festival at Paeroa. the Paeroa Dramatic Club staged three plays in the parish hall on Monday and Tuesday nights which provided excellent entertainment for a large and appreciative audience. The programme will be repeated tonight at Kerepehi. “The Startled Saint” The first play “The Startled Saint” by Philip Johnson was an amusing comedy. The play takes its title from the scene—that of an Ehglish public house—and the plot which is particularly well developed retains suspense right to the fall of the curtain. The. play was produced by Mrs H. P. Wylde. A decided? quickening of tempo will improve this presentation. The cast was as follows: —

Miss Harrowby, Jean Gamble; Miss Fossett, Rutty Fromme; .Leery Burdock, C. Blackwood; Mrs Dalby, Wynne O’Kane; Princess Daniellj, Joan Blackwood; The young man, Gordon Gamble; Tilly, Jill Stewart. “Mr Twemlon is not Himself”

“Mr Twemlow is not Himself,” is another comedy, by Philip Johnson of the entertainment first variety. The action takes place in the living room of Mr Twemlow’s house and the story

from the theme of changed identities. The pompops Mr Twemlow and the bawdy Mr Braby are rendered unconscious at the same moment and turn up two hours later as their w selves with amusing results to tnh audience and disconcerting reaction* on the part oi their wives. The play was produced by Mr R. Shearer.

The play will again stand more pkce. In comedy there are no weighty thoughts to sink in.

- The cast was ass. follows: — Mrs Braby, Lola Shearer; Mabel, Joan Haslett; Alice Twemlow, Queenie Gernhoefer; Braby, Robert Sims; Hattie, Francis Bygrave; Mr Twemlow, Rex Shearer. “Happy Journey” The third play “Happy Journey,” by Thornton Wilder was an excellently portrayed, character study with a novel and successful stage technique. The difficult task of making the audience realise the peculiar blend of mawkish sentimentality, raw emotionalism,. combined with almost startling practical ability, which are the characteristics of an American family of lowly origin, was fulfilled completely and convincingly. The realisation that America is indeed a foreign country was completely apparent. The play was produced by Mrs R. I. McKenzie. The cast was as follows: —

Stage manager, Robert Morrison; Mr Kirby, Sibyl Craig; Arthur Kirby, Rex Beale; Caroline Kirby, Joan Murray; Pa - Kirby, Stanley Julian; Beulah, Mary McKenzie. Stage managers were Messrs H. R. Thorp, R. I. W. McKenzie and Grey Townshend; prompts and off-stage effects, Mrs R. Sims and Mr Ron alton; make-up Mrs K. Beale and front of house, Mrs J. J. Craig