Drama Festival Succeeds

Northern Advocate, 31 July 1939, Page 11

Drama Festival Succeeds

The good impression which the members of the Women's Institutes who tool; part in the Drama Festival on the opening night was demonstrated on Friday evening, when, despite cold weather, there was a very satisfactory attendance at the Town Hall. Another excellent evening's entertainment was provided. The audience consisted of a large proportion of country people, who evinced, by the interest they took in the proceedings, the great purpose which is being served by the drama a.s part of the programme of the Women s Institute movement. hint only does the movement provide opportunity for members of the Institutes to develop their intellectual aspirations, but they provide real interest to the members as a whole.

A Diversified Programme. Last night's programme was of a diversified character. Apart from the plays, a real musical treat was supplied by Mr Carrington-Wellby, one of the finest singers who have appeared in Whangarei, and by the Frivolity Four, who were very successful in two quartets. The orchestra also provided an excellent overture. HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS. The first drama was “Mirror to Elizabeth," produced by High School junior girls. This drama came from the pen of a local playwright. The theme dealt with the reactions of Queen Elizabeth and members of her household to the news that Britain .had secured a victory over her enemy. The heartbreak of one of her ladies at the news that line victory had cost life life of her beloved one, coloured the Queen’s reception of the news which set the bells of London ring-

■ Queen Elizabeth (Maile Morris) was not regal enough in her anger, said Miss Webster, criticising the individual players, and she was also a little too modern in her display of wrath. Her sympathetic moments, however, were much bettor. Miss Morris could have used gestures to better advantage.

Ladies-in-Waiting, while their acting was quite good, did not speak loudly enough, and on two occasions players were "masked” from the audience. Mary Howard (Doreen Shirley) played her part well, but the page (Hazel Ruddell) made a gesture of contempt too modern for the Elizabethan period. Other ladies-in-wait-ing were Noclene Michaels, Vivia Walton, Nellie Harnett and Thyrza Wallace. The frocking for this play was excellent, even if the setting lacked period furniture.

KAURI’S EXCELLENT COMEDY. ‘Tt's All In One," the comedy staged by the Kauri Institute, was an excellent original play, but was completely lacking in stagecraft. Miss Webster said. There was splendid comedy dialogue, which lost something .in its presentation because of the lack of experience of the players. The Kauri Institute members’• contribution would have been first rate had they acted with a little more confidence. Miss Webster said. Experience will apparently produce interesting material in this Institute. The cast was: Mrs Bowlby, Mrs Rickard; her daughters. Miss Coxhead and Miss Harris; president of the W. 1.. Mrs Goodhue; secretary. Miss T. Coxhead.

AMBITIOUS PLAY BY WHANGAREI CENTRE.

‘•Here we have the most dramatic piece of the festival,” said Miss Webster, discussing "End of Courage," produced by the Whangarei Centre of the Women’s Institute.

The piece contained heavy drama, but there was room for argument as to its suitability for amateurs. The play, however, gave great scope for dramatic ability, although it was a little too drawn out.

A play of blank verse, with the metre and rhythm well kept, "End of Courage." the plot of which was laid in a convent in a besieged Italian city in the 14th century, obtained excellent effects with music off-stage. Timing and toning were excellent. Miss Webster commented.

“This was a play for the study of inflections and emphasis,” she said.

“As an amateur effort, it was well done —well staged, with good costumes and lighting." Mrs Wiley took the part of the Spartan Mother; the young girl was Mrs Lewis; the nuns, Mrs MacDonald and Miss Wiley; the abbess. Mrs Beale; the page, Mrs Sparkos; the officer, Mrs McCabe; and the young man. Miss Broughton Carr.

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ EFFORT.

“The most extraordinary of extraordinary plays to choose for such a festival,” is the description given by Miss Webster to “Mrs Noah Gives The Sign,” a play produced by the boys of the Whangarei High School. It was. Miss Webster said, a play better to read than to produce, and one which apparently gave the boys more fun than it did the audience.

No scope was given for acting, and it could hardly be given points on an acting standard. The players were only the heads of animals, ’ and the parts sounded to be read rather than memorised.

“I look forward to the next effort of the High School boys,” Miss Webster said, "but I hope to sec the boys acting then, and not appearing merely as caricatures of animals."

A play of this type, she added should be cut and timed.

The Titoki Women’s Institute pre-sented-an interesting item in the shape of a picturesquely-dressed Chinese scene. The festival concludes this evening.