COMEDY AND DRAMA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22166, 20 July 1935, Page 20

COMEDY AND DRAMA

DIOCESAN OLD GIRLS TRIPLE BILL PRESENTED Comedy and tragedy were effectively blended'to make a thoroughly enjoyable programme at an evening of drama presented in the Diocesan High School hall by the Old Girls' League yesterday. The programme included three oneact plays as well as an amusing and charming mime entitled il The Mime of 1110 Simple Ploughboy " arranged by Miss Noni Wright. This was the opening number and was sung by Miss Amy Hansard, those taking part being Miss Una Moore, Miss Margaret Kitkl, Miss Pifcggy Scott-Young, Miss Alice Jackson and Messrs. J. Parsons and Wallace Smith.

Comedy was the key-note of the owning play " Little Glass Houses " by Philip Johnson and Howard Agg. -A skilful hand was revealed in the choice ol: cast in this number, which dealt mainly with the snobbery which existed among certain of the English upper classes about the year 1810. As Madame Rossignol, the young and attractive opera singer, who inspires the devotion of the gallants of the time, together with the undying hatred of the women. Miss Noni Wright gives one of her cleverest stage interpretations. Her half French half English accent is effective, but not overdone and her duel of words with four haughty women, bent on her downfall, is a triumph of acting, iis the three English ladies of high birth, Miss Lorna Leatham, Miss Eleanor Upton and Miss June Moody are equally excellent, while Miss Dulcie Jiahon is ideal as the demure daughter.

A very different note is struck in the second play, John Drinkwater's " The Storm." Here is tragedy, stark and cruel. The scene is a mountain cottage on a mid-winter night, with a wife waiting for her husband who is never to return. The storm rages outside; searchers are looking for her husband, and inside the cottage stalks the spectre cf v fear fighting a bitter battle against hope. Perhaps tho most difficult role ia this play was that of Alice, the wife, taken by Miss Nell Lush, whose unrestrained but effective acting found ready appreciation from the audience. Miss Joan Edwards as an old neighhour. Miss Barbara Bates as Joan, the Vidow's sister, and Mr. Kenneth Warburton as a young stranger are equally iffective, while a minor role is taken by Mr. John Thompson. The programme concludes with a burlesque comedy entitled " The Poison Party by F. Sladen-Smith. Dealing with court intrigua of olden days, the play is based somewhat on the Borgia methods of poisoning all unnecessary j>eople, but in typical burlesque style i.he poisoner's plans go awry. Miss AlIhea Parker gives a fine interpretation of the queen mother's part, while other roles are taken by Miss Pesrgv ScottToung, Miss June Beale, Messrs. H. McKail Gcddes, Ronald Bowie and Clif!ion Heine.

The three plays were produced by Miss Nell Lush and music is under the leadership of Miss Necker. The concert, which was well attended, will be repeated this evening.