LITTLE THEATRE SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22831, 16 March 1936, Page 2

LITTLE THEATRE SOCIETY

NEW PLAYHOUSE OCCUPIED SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL CEREMONY An important step in the progress of the Dunedin Little Theatre Society was made on Saturday evening when the society took over its new headquarters in tile Tabernacle building in King street. For some months, indeed ever since the society was formed, the commute has been endavouring to secure suitable premises for the construction of a theatre, and now, with the. co-opera-tion of Mrs John Hamer, it has an excellent theatre of moderate size which will not only serve the society’s purpose admirably but will also be a decided acquisition to the city. The building has undergone extensive alteration to make provision for up-to-date stage and dressing room accommodation, and it has now all the facilities of a modern playhouse of the more intimate type. The official opening of the theatre on Saturday evening was performed by the Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) and the president of the society (Mr R. S. M. Sinclair), after which two one-act plays were presented by members of the society. Mr Sinclair welcomed the large audience to the society’s new quarters, and expressed pleasure at seeing kindred socitics so well represented. The society was especially thankful to the Mayor for coming to bestow on it his civic blessing. The Little Theatre Society, he said, was formed in July of last year, and up to December it had 150 members appearing on the stage, which must constitute something of a record for so young a society. It then produced “ The White Chateau,” an ambitious but highly successful effort, in which 42 players took part. The society was different from others in that it produced what it wished, with no thought for box office returns, but only for what- the players and producers liked. There was, in his opinion, plenty of room for such an organisation as the Little Theatre Society in the city, and ho expressed his appreciation of the fine spirit existing among amateur dramatic players in Dunedin. The society now had its own theatre, for which it would have been still labouring had it not been for the co-operation of Mrs Hamer, who had voluntarily spent a considerable sum of money to alter the building to suit the requirements of the society. The society’s board of management had been a very happy family. Its difficulties had been treated lightly and overcome, but one who had borne the heat and burden of the day was Mr Freud, without whose co-operation the opening of the theatre would probably have been further postponed. The future of the society depended entirely on the cooperation of every member. It had a big programme ahead of it, the schedule of productions to be presented in the near future including “ She Stoops to Conquer,” “ Peter Pan,” “ Bunty Pulls the Strings,” and “ Outward Bound,” as well as four plays by Dunedin authors in conjunction with New Zealand authors’ week. An excellent orchestra had been formed, under Mr L. 0. Asten, and the society was proud to be able to provide its own orchestra for the opening ceremony. Mr Sinclair concluded by expressing the hope that the new theatre would help the Little Theatre Society to be a strong force in amateur dramatic circles in the city. The Mayor said he was glad to offer the president his congratulations on that night of nights in the history of the society. It was a great day in the family life when the occupants of a house could claim it as their own. Likewise it was a great day in the society’s life when it had a centre from which could radiate all the dramatic fire which lay pent up within the hearts of so many actors. Interest in the dramatic art, like all other movements, ebbed or flowed, but the true dramatist was indifferent to the popularity or otherwise of the drama—he carried on. The drama of the day was the natural outcome of their own immediate environment, of the life that closely surrounded them. The life around them teemed with problems of conduct and character, which might be said almost to cry out for dramatic treatment, and thus they were apt to yield to the allurements of contemporary psychology and to forget that fancy and romance have also their immortal rights in the drama. If he could offer any word of advice he would say “ Don’t be concerned always with the gate.” It had been said by a great writer, “ Good work rarely sells.” They should keep aloft the ideal of interpreting life to the people—not just contemporary life, but universal life, life full of intense interest, dramatic (ire and passion—and (lie stage would remain one of the great pleasure grounds of the people. In conclusion Mr Cox said that lie was glad to be associated with them in the inaugural meeting in connection with the establishment of their new theatre.

Mrs Hamer said she was very grateful for the opportunity to speak on that important occasion in the history of the society. She congratulated the society on the enthusiasm with which it had attacked f its problems, and said that local actors and actresses had long felt the want of a place of their own where they could rehearse and produce their plays, and at last they had such a theatre. She felt sure that the Little Theatre Society would be a great success in view of the excellent spirit of co-operation existing in the organisation. Local talent could now be brought more before the public, and she was glad to be associated with a movement that would help to keep up public interest in the stage. Mr Reynolds Herbert said that without the co-operation of the society’s board of management it would not have got where it had. He paid a tribute to all who had helped in making the theatre an accomplished fact, and said that the members’ job now was to push the society ahead. It was intended to produce plays monthly, and these, with various social gatherings, would fully occupy members’ attention. ONE-ACT PLAYS. The first of the two one-act plays presented during the evening was John Galsworthy’s “ The First and the Last,” a dramatic and absorbing work in which the three characters were played by Miss Madge Yates, Mr S. G. Lock and Mr 0. C. Stephens. The atmosphere of tragedy, past and impending, was admirably sustained throughout the presentation. Mr Lock was Keith Darrant, K.C., whose agitation at the discovery that his brother Larry is a murderer is occasioned principally by the fear of the dishonour to his name, which might be prejudicial to his career. Mr Lock acquitted himself well in this role, although his agitation could have been more forcibly conveyed. Mr Stephens was impressively tragic ns the unfortunate Larry Darrant, who, for love of a woman, commits murder, and then finds there is only one way out of the tangle that ensues when an innocent man is condemned for the crime, while Miss Yates, as the woman in the case, brought a considerable degree of charm and appeal to her characterisation. The play was produced by the society’s Production Committee.

In attractive contrast was W. W. Jacobs’s “ The Wanning Pan,” an amusing comedy in which the characters are drawn with the deft and entertaining touch to be found in all this writer’s work. Kate, Captain Boom’s somewhat capricious daughter, is not impressed by the cautious wooing of one Dick,

so her father decides to force her hand bv netting his old friend Baggett to propose to the girl, with the idea that she will come to appreciate Dick's eligibility. The plan goes awry, however, for Kate overhears the plot, and the conspirators at first find the tables turned against them. Major Dampen, as Baggett, drew an authoritative Jacobs character and invested his work with a wealth of humorous gesture and inflexion, while Mr Krnest Griffon also did well as the bluff captain. Miss Irene M'Neill made a charming Kate, and Mr Lloyd Martin was a sufficiently shy suitor who, however, makes the most of the opportunity that comes his way at the end of the comedy. The play was capably produced by Mr Douglas Skene. During the evening a number of enjoyable selections were provided by the orchestra, and at the conclusion of the entertainment members of the audience paid a visit of inspection to the back of the stage.