Women’s Institute Drama Festival

Northland Age, Volume 8, Issue 2, 12 October 1938, Page 6

Women’s Institute Drama Festival

A good and varied programme drew repeated applause from a large audience at the A. and P. hall, Kaitaia, last Thursday evening, when the annual drama festival of the Federation of Women’s Institutes was held. Commencing with a haka of welcome by the Manukau children, the programme continued with a glee song by the Awanui Institute, a Maori Medley by the Ahipara Native Institute, and songs by Mrs. Bagley and Miss Sutton to the piece-de-re-of these, “Indispensable Julia,” was

staged by the Awanui Institute, the cast being : Mrs. Simms—Mrs. Johnston ; Mr. Simms —Mrs. Williamson; Miss Jensen—Miss L. Maria ; Miss Lettitia Robinson—Mrs. Thompson ; Horace Simms —Mrs. Gill ; Julia— Miss M. Sqtton. Of the farce type, the play progressed to the accompaniment of a current of chuckles, and at its conclusion received well-merit-ed acclaim. The Kaitaia Institute produced the second play, also a farce. Titled “Aunt Lizzie’s Friend,” the story was enacted by : The Maid—Mrs. Bagley ; Mrs. Soaring—Mrs. Turner ; Stella Soaring—Mrs. Moore ; Aunt Lizzie —Miss M. Sumich ; Miss Whimple —Mrs. Bradley ; Mrs. JeffersonWhite—Mrs. Stubbs ; Mrs. Snobbsistance, two one-act plays. The first

Cranston—Mrs. Powell ; Aunt Lizzie’s Friend—Mrs. Carstens. Each performer played her part as though to the manner born, yet so skilful was the blending that none overshadowed | the others. The vehicle throughout was i well balanced, and the audience ap- j predated the humour of the dialogue, j After the plays Mr. and Mrs. F. j Gair, who acted as judges, gave their i verdict in favour of the Kaitaia In- j stitute’s display ; both judges also gave a short, but very interesting and : helpful, talk on mistakes made by the cast and how production could be improved—the value of this talk should be apparent in next year’s drama festival. A bounteous supper was then served, after which the Ritz dispensed snappy music for the dance-lovers.