Festival of Drama by Women's Institute Teams

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 194, 19 August 1935, Page 8

Festival of Drama by Women's Institute Teams

POH ANGINA AND POXTON SECURE THE HONOURS

Tho Empiro hall was crowded to tbe doors on Saturday evening when the Women’s Institute festival of drama was brought to a close. The festival was tho most successful yet held by the North Wellington Federation, fifteen teams providing a veritable feast of drama. Tho adjudicator, Mr. E. N. Hogben, principal of tho Dannevirlce High School, stated that ho had heard favourable reports from Miss Elizabeth Blako of tho standard of work in this district, but confessed that ho had been agreeably surprised with the performances right through—there had not been ono weak performance. The outstanding point had been that tho teams had caught the spirit of the plays they were presenting—knowing tho words was a comparatively small part in a successful production. Mr. Hogben said he realised tho good work that was being done by tho Women's Institutes throughout tho Dominion in encouraging community drama and offered his hearty congratulations on the movement they had set going and the excellent standard they were achieving. Producers were realising, too, that it was better to attempt an ambitious play and get thero than to half get there with a poor play. Mr. Hogben went oil to speak in general terms of the various performances and the weakness he had noticed, lack of gesture and inaudibility being the chief faults he had to find.

In announcing his placings, Mr. Hogben stated that he considered Pohangina’s presentation of “The Witch's Brew” the outstanding performance of the festival.

Following wero the results:—

Mixed Team. Pohaugiua, “The Witch's Brew” .. .1 Milson, “The Twclvo Pound Look” 8 All Women Cast. Foxton, “Women at War” 1 Cheltenham, “Aunt Lizzie’s Friend” and Bauson, “Cat and Kittens” equal 2

Miss M. Grant, president of the North Wellington Federation, returned thanks to tho teams for the excellent variety of plays they had provided and called for an expression of appreciation of Mr. Hogben’s helpful criticisms and Mrs. Linda Bennett’s splendid assistance as stage manager.

Following was Saturday’s pro gramme:—

Afternoon Plays,

Cheltenham: “Aunt Lizzie’s Friend’’ (Olivo McKenzie), Mesdames Humphreys, W. Green, A. I'. Dowrick, Caldwell, Pollock and Baker, Misses Gwen Humphreys and Jo-r.n Billman. Producer, Mrs. K. Ross.

Bauson :Oats and Kittens” (Mary Parkington), Mesdames J. Bowater and Adams, Misses M. Murphy and R. Dwyor. Producer, Miss M. McFariane.

Evening Plays. Linton: “The Experiment” (Mary Parkington), Mesdames T. Gretton and N. Greer, Misses E. Gretton, Messrs O. Terry, N. Greer and Ron Smith; Producer, Mrs. Gretton. Pohang.na: “Witch’s Brew” (Mary Parkington), Mesdames Orgias and J. Moar, Misses J. Sinclair and D. Watson, Messrs A. Balmer and A. Orgias, Producer, ivirs. S. T. Bristow. Te Arakura: “A Dish of Scandal,” Mesdames Oheotaam, Thomas and Hume, Misses Benge, Dewar and Baxter. Producer, Miss Bailey. Whakarongo: “Tho Grand Chan’s Diamond” (Alan Monkhouso), Mrs. Morris and Miss M. Vautier, Messrs Gibbs, E. Cater and A. Crawford. Producer, Miss C. Vautier.

Linton: “April Shower” (Philip Johnson), Mesdames J. Lynch, Crawford and Moyes, Misses Young and L. Irvine. Producer, Mrs. E. Harrison. Milson: “Chimney Corner” (M. E. Atkinson), Mesdames Olds, Bruce ana King, Misses Prentice and Terry. Producer, Mrs. S. T. Bristow.

Foxton: “ Women at War” (Edward Percy;, Mesdames Barron, Byne, Thomas and Edwards, Misses Allen, Thomson and Filler. Producer, Mrs. Thomas.