DRAMA NIGHT

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4346, 20 October 1950, Page 9

DRAMA NIGHT

PLAYS AT THAMES

WIN FOR COROMANDEL

INSTITUTE PERFORMANCES

There was a very good attendance at the drama evening at Thames on Tuesday night last organised by the Thames-Hauraki Plains District Federation of Women’s Institutes.

Several plays were produced, the comedy cup going to Coromandel institute and the drama cup to Mercury Bay, the only entrant in that class.

Miss M. Escott of Auckland acted as adjudicator and she asked every one to remember that every judge had a bee in his or her bonnet. Miss Escott congratulated Mercury Bay institute on entering two plays for the competitions. “The Knowing Heart” had plenty of intensity and she advised players to take time on entrances, to hold the entrance and not rush it. Points were often thrown away by not emphasising the lines. Another fault was the slowness in taking up a cue. Lighting could be used to better effect. In “Too Much Bluebeard” the climax was not carried out as it should have been. More attention should be given to details which were always important. What supposed to have been a' rusty saw was clean aluminium. Certain things were meant to be more horrible than, had been portrayed. In commenting upon “His Majesty’s Service,” Msss Escott said that the start was not quite fast enough. There was stage noise bn one side and players looked out on the other. Team work was good but the climax had drooped,

“Granny’s Juliet” was not a good play, said Miss Escott. It was too difficult for amateurs and it had very little tension. Whispering had to be the real thing.

During the evening Mrs N. L. Lithgow sang a bracket of songs, “Happy Song,” “Beyond the Dawn” and later “The Star” and “Waiata. Poi.” A hearty vote was proposed by Mrs Lithgow thanking Miss Escott for all her help and her valuable advice. The marks obtained by those placed w ere:-—Coromandel -—6 O * marks, 1; Pipiroa, 58, 2; Mercury Bay, 48, 3. Highest marks for the best individual performance went to Miss G. Russell of Coromandel, who was also the producer of the winning comedy. The cast in each play was as follows :—

“Too Much Bluebeard,” Pipiroa institute: Mrs Knight, Mrs L. E. Scott; Mi’s Roberts, Mrs Moffatt; Bluebeard, Mrs L. E. Scott.

“To Many Suitors,” Wharepoa institute (not competitive): Mrs Death, Mrs D. Morrison, Mrs J. Bax, Mrs T. Bax and Mrs C. Murdoch. “His Majesty’s Service,” Coromandel institute: Daisy, Mrs E. Davies; Mrs Mulliner, Miss G. Russell; Mrs Dodds, Mrs A. McKinley; Cynthia, Mrs Ball; Mrs Pacherly, Mrs Strongman; Mirs Marlowe, Mrs Anderson. “Granny’s Juliet,” Mercury Bay institute: Lady Millbourne, Mrs W. Harsant; Muriel, Mrs P. Simpson; Mrs Paynter, Mrs N. Wells. * “The Knowing Heart” (drama), Mercury Bay institute (producer Mrs Crabbe): Nan, Mrs P. Simpson; Mrs Danby, Mrs R. Smith; Daisy, Mirs L. Russell; Lady Gowing, Mrs Hughes; Mary Ashley, Mrs R. Simpson.