MODERN PLAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19527, 9 July 1925, Page 10

MODERN PLAYS.

A DELIGHTFUL ENTERTAINMENT.

It is not often that the public is given the opportunity of attending such an excellent entertainment as that presented by Miss Rene Aslin and her fellow actors in the Coronation Hall, Maori Hill, last night. The evening, which was one of a series of the Maori Hill Lecture Course t was devoted to scenes from modern plays, and proved as popular as its predecessors, the hall being crowded. Moreover, the audience listened with evident enjoyment. The entertainment opened with a reading entitled “Followers,” a Cranford sketch by Harold Brighouse. The story briefly tells how Miss Lucina Baines (Miss Dora Joughin), who 25 years previously had for no apparent reason refused an offer of marriage from the man she really loved. This unfortunate lover Colonel Redfern (Mr Alan Watson), seeks forgetfulness by enlisting in the Indian army, and after serving his country faithfully and well he returns to England'to again seek his choice. However, she refuses him on the ground that the best part of her life has been spent, and she resigns herself to her dreams and memories. • However, she sees that her own life has been wasted, so she gives permission to a young girl friend, Helen Masters (Miss Nancy Aslih), to bring her betrothed to the house, provided ho wipes his boots carefully on the mat, and gives to her housemaid, Susan Crowther (.Mis, Rene Aslin;, permission to entertain her follower in the kitchen, proyided he remains there and does not raise his voice in the manner which men creatures have. Miss Joughin played her part exceedingly well, while Mr Gardiner proved a very haughty, but disappointed, colonel. The second piece was an amusing little farce entitled “The Impertinence of the Creature,” from the pen of Cosmo GordonLonnox. Lady Millicent (Miss Rene Aslin) grievously insults an “unknown gentleman” (Mr A. Watson), who, in reality, was an explorer lately returned from the scene of his adventures, and in whose honour a ball had been given, Lady Millicent being one of the guests. Miss Aslin and Mr Watson were admirably cast in their respective parts, and the audience greatly enjoyed the farce. “The Voice of the People,” by Allan Mulgan, had a political intrigue as a plot, and showed how the heroine, Beatrice Galbraith (Miss Nancy Aslin), successfully converted G. Brownley, M.P. (Mr A. Watson), to her way of thinking, both politically and in matters of the heart. In this playlet Mr A. Gardiner, as the Rev. Mortimer Harrington, the boon companion and adviser to his parliamentary friend, acted the part of the society curate to perfection. Miss Dora Joughin, as Rachel Brownley, was also well cast.

The final playlet, by Oliphani Down, “The Maker of Dreams,” was a fanciful tale dealing with Pierrot (Mr A. Gardiner) and Pierrette (Miss Rene Aslin). Pierrette loves Pierrot, but he does not return the affection till after the arrival of the Maker of Dreams' (Mr A. Watson). The moral of the story is that many vainly seek happiness when it lies at their own doorstep. An unusual feature at such an entertainment was the exceptionally fine orchestra of 14 performers, under the conductorship of Miss N. Garland, and the selections rendered added greatly to the success of the evening, as they did much to create the necessary atmosphere of the period when the crinoline was in vogue. During the evening the following items were rendered: —“The Pythian March,” “The Imperial Overture,” “The Pilgrim” (comet solo, Mr F. W. Robinson), gavotte ‘Miriam,” mazurka “Golden Moments.” plantation songs “Echoes from the South,” and march “The Patriot.”

At the conclusion of the entertainment Mr J J. Clark proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the entertainers and to the orchestra, which was carried by acclamation.