W.E.A.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23302, 21 September 1937, Page 3

W.E.A.

ARTS AND DRAMA CLASS

Last Saturday night, an “open evening” for members ended the working session of the Arts and Drama Class of the W.E.A. Miss Sheppard’s piano solo, “Rhapsodic Mignonne,” by Carl Koellmg, gave much pleasure; “Father O’Flynn, sung with appropriate gusto by Mr W, W. Bridgman followed, to the accompaniment of Mrs Simpson. Miss Newey’s acting of “ The Cockney Girl at the Kinema” was an excellent piece of work and proved most diverting. Next came “ Snowed Up With a Duchess” a comedy in which a perfect snob met with her deserts. This was a credit to the producer, Mrs MacPhail. The setting of the scene was unusually good, showing the exercise of some imagination. The different types of women were given definite character and the climax was well worked out. The cast was—The Duchess of Salterton, Mrs Mackenzie; Madame Value, Mrs MacPhail; Mrs Chol-mondeley-Jones, Mrs Weatherell; Mrs Hodge, Mrs E. W. Hunter. Mrs Ikin sang “Early In the Morning’ and “A Memory.” Her accompanist was Miss Westwood, There followed a short, lively comedy written and produced by Mr W, W. Bridgman, “None But the Brave.” In this, an actor, who was a suitor for a young girl’s hand, to prove his acting powers to the indifferent father, staged a hold-up. The father was convinced and all ended happily. It was presented by the following cast:—Henry Skelton, Mr S. Bridgman; Aunt Ada, Mrs S. Bridgman; Arthur, Mr W. W. Bridgman; Roma, Miss Stella Maden. Mr Simpson sang with brilliant effect “ Impatience ” and “ For You Alone. Mrs Simpson played the accompaniments.

The next item was a very popular and witty contribution which consisted of topical verses on various members of the class sung by Misses Stella Maden, Phyllis Maden, Lament and Sheppard and Messrs W. W. Bridgman, Simpson, Kerr and Weatherall, with Mrs Simpson at the piano and Mr Weatherall playing the mandolin. A sketch called “Yesterday,” in which Miss Laing played Lady Anne Travers and Miss Drakley, General Sir Richard Farrington, was acted with delicacy and charm, earning enthusiastic applause. Incidental music played by Miss Burns helped to produce the right atmosphere. Mr W. W. Bridgman, asking the tutorproducer (Mrs O. C. Stephens) to accept two volumes of Eugene O’Neill’s plays from the class, spoke of her hard work, her sympathy with the members and her enthusiasm for her task. Mr Brailsford said that all members must feel that the class was specially indebted to Mrs Stephens She it' was who had put the finish to the work. Mrs Stephens, in a speech of thanks, said she had not done what she had hoped to do. She went on to make a few valuable suggestions for the next year’s work.

Indians in Bangalore gathered at a mass meeting to protest against the marriage there of a 65-year-old Indian to a girl of 16. At the time of the marriage students staged a demonstration, which had to be dispersed by the police. Speakers at the meeting condemned the marriage as an “inhuman monstrosity.” and adopted a resolution urging the Government to legislate against such unions. It was pointed out that the Sarda Act, now on the Statute Book, fixed minimum ages for marriages of men and women, but that it was even more desirable to legislate against disproportionate ages of the contracting parties.