LITTLE THEATRE SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22629, 22 July 1935, Page 6

LITTLE THEATRE SOCIETY

A SUCCESSFUL DEBUT ONE-ACT PLAYS IN TOWN HALL.

The Dunedin Little Theatre Society, formed only a few days before, introduced itself to the drama-loving public of, Dunedin in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Saturday, when, with the assistance of the Repertory Society, it presented a programme of one-act plays. It is not often that- such an organisation is faced with the necessity of turning people away from its first public performance, but this is exactly what happened on this occasion. The hall was filled to overflowing a quarter of an hour before the performance was timed to begin. The evening's programme comprised three of the prize-winning plays at the British Drama League's festival, and welcome interludes were provided by the pupils of Mr Stan Lawson's School of Dancing. The dramatic fare provided was out of the ordinary, aud the three performances were enthusiastically received by the large audience. Civic congratulations and good wishes were conveyed to the new society by the Deputy Mayor (Mr F. Jones, M.P.) at the commencement of the evening, the bulk of the proceeds of which are destined to find their way into the coffers of the Mayor's Unemployment Relief Fund. The first performance was "Thirst," the period play in which Mr R. Herbert distinguished himself in the recent competition". It was admirably interpreted again on this occasion and obviously impressed audience. The Dunedin Repertory Society's team followed with Sir James Barrie's unfinished one-act play " Shall We Join the Ladies?" an enthralling fragment which had a highly attractive interpretation, at the hands of a large cast. Mr Douglas Dall gave an excellent account of himself, and Miss Dorothy Clark, by the very domination of personality, stamped her presence on the recollection of her audience. - Others included in the cast were Mrs Wakefield Holmes, Mr YV. R. Brugh, Miss Margot Garrett, Mr Desmond Greenslade, Mr Maurice Joel, and Miss Dessa Stabb.

Finally the first prize play of the festival was reproduced by Miss Jessie M'Lennan and Mr Gordon Niven and a selected cast. The two principals excelled themselves in a masterly and artistic version of Eugene O'Neill's " He," and supplied a strikingly successful finale to the evening's entertainment. The play was again produced" by Miss Madge Yates.

The dance numbers supplied by Mr Lawson's pupils were effectively staged and artistically executed.