W.I. Drama Festival Awards Made at Final Session

Northern Advocate, 31 July 1939, Page 9

W.I. Drama Festival Awards Made at Final Session

A WARDS IN THE ANNUAL DRAMA FESTIVAL OF THE WHANGAREI FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S INSTITUTES WERE MADE BY MISS ANITA WEBSTER, AUCKLAND, THE ADJUDICATOR, AT THE FINAL SESSION IN THE TOWN HALL ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

Trophies were presented by the president, Mrs J. Ross, Parua Bay, as follows;—

j Institute Section. | Comedy.—“ All in One” (Kauri W.L). 180 points. 1; "Sinking” (Whangarei Centre), 76 points, 2. Drama. —“End of Courage” (Whangarei Centre), 103 points, 1; "Peace in Cur Time” (Maunu W.L), 91 points, 2; “The Flood” (Whangarei Centre), 87 points, 3. Duologue.—“ Witchcraft” (Whangarei Centre), 107 points, 1; "Relapse in Consuls” (Whangarei Centre), 81 points, 2. Open Section (Senior). Drama.—“ Call of the Koe Koe” (Y.W. C.A.), 76 points, 1; “Far, Far Away” (Y.W.C.A.), 74 points, 2. Comedy.—“ The Bathroom Door” (Woolworths), 107 points, 1. Open Section (Junior) Fantasy.—“ The Patchwork Quilt” (Y.W.C.A.), 74 points, h.c. .Drama. —“Mirror to Elizabeth” (High School Juniors), 93 points, 1. Comedy.—“ Mrs Biddlecombe and the Purriners” (High School Girls), 82 points, 1; “Mrs Noah Gives the Sign” (High School Boys), 72 points, 2. Auspicious Close

Miss Webster had much praise for the individual players, especially Miss Robertson, who had handled the comedy lines well. Misses Bauer and Crawford had spoken out particularly well, while other players had cax-ried out their duties to advantage. Grouping had been good, but more could have been made of the dramatic moments. “SINKING,” WHANGAREI’S COMEDY. The dancing mistress, with two elderly ladies as pupils, provided material for plenty of laughter in “Sinking,” the Whangarei Centre’s comedy, which formed the last item. When the two pupils became mixed up with the love affairs of their instructress, the laughs were redoubled, while the action proved good, boisterout entertainment. The cast was: Mildred, Mrs Wyley; Penelope, Mrs Parrott; Mrs Jordan Bliss, Mrs H. Beale; Miss MungfordCrownpits, Mrs McLachlan; serving maid, Miss M. Broughton-Carr. Commenting on this production, Miss Webster stressed the need for speed and action in a play of this type, and suggested that judicious cutting might have effected an improvement.

Saturday night’s programme brought the festival to an auspicious close. Comedy presentations formed the major portion of the programme, and met with the approbation of an appreciative audience. In addition, selections were rendered by an orchestra under the baton of Mr Albert Dobson, while during the evening Miss J. Smithies presented a vocal solo, for which she earned an encore. High School Comedy The first presentation of the evening was the High School girls’ comedy, “Mrs Biddlecombe and the Furriners,” portraying the surprising shrewdness of an English village woman in dealing with tourists. The cast was: Mrs Biddlecombe, Olive Lane; Mrs Springwell. Betsy Wright; Elsie, Joan Matthews; Beatrice, Janet Smith; Mrs Green, Edna Holt; Rowland Montague, Sheila Harty; Mrs Montague, Betty Inkster. Miss Webster praised this production as a charming comedy, in which Mrs Biddlecombe was an excellent characterisation. Some of the other members had shown lack of stagecraft. “On the whole, for juniors, the cast did very well indeed,” was Miss Webster’s comment.

CHARMING FANTASY. “The Patchwork Quilt” was the title of the charming fantasy presented by junior Y.W.C.A. members. “This is another good choice for juniors,” said Miss Webster. “There is much scope for character work, and this has been well done.” The cast was: Mrs Willis, June Searle; Ann (her daughter), Peggy Beale; Joan (her daughter-in-law), Jean Edgar; Betty (her grand-daugh-ter). Ruth Beale: Molly (the bride), Peggy Dyer; William (the bridegroom), Audrey Arden; Emily (the daughter), Rae Bissett. Miss Webster commended Miss Dyer on her nicely-modulated voice, and Miss Searle on her excellent characterisation.

Her main point of criticism was the need for players in a big hall to pitch their voice to suit the hall, as it had been difficult to hear many of the words spoken.

WOOLWORTHS’ BRIGHT COMEDY

The staff of Wool worths made a happy choice in their comedy. “The Bathroom Door,” and without doubt this was the most popular presentation of the evening.

Those in the cast were: Prima Donna, Miss Griffen; Old Lady, Miss N. Jackman; Young Lady, Miss J. Little; Boots, Miss R. Purcell; Young Man, Mr Copeland: Old Gentleman, Mr Palmer.

“An excellent comedy,” was Miss Webster’s remark.

It had been well staged and grouped, and the prima donna had exhibited a delightful speaking voice. “It was very well done throughout, and I don’t think I can find any more adjectives,” concluded the adjudicator. “RELAPSE IN CONSULS.” DUOLOGUE. The spoonerisms and other little grammatical errors in which the two parts abounded made for much fun in “Relapse in Consuls,” the duologue staged by Mesdames Beale and Calder, of the Whangarei Centre Women’s j Institute. | “Very bright and cheerful,” was j Miss Webster's comment. “There did not seem to be much point in it, but everyone enjoyed it,” LIGHT DRAMA IN “FAR, FAR AWAY.” “Far, Far Away.” the senior Y.W.C.A. presentation, was classed as a comedy, but much of its effectiveness was gained from touches of drama.

The cast was: Cook, Miss Mildred Robertson; Penny, Miss Irene Bcrridge: Queenie, Miss Phyllis Bauer; Mrs Considine, Miss Peggy Crawford; Nancy, Miss Kathleen McConnell: Grimwade, Miss Lilian Johnson.