WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26792, 8 June 1948, Page 9

WOMEN’S INSTITUTES

CULTURAL ACTIVITY DRAMA AND CHOIR FESTIVAL The practical side of the work being done by Women’s Institutes throughout Otago has been amply displayed during the week-end at the Winter Show. The cultural value was in evidence at last night’s Drama and Choir Festival held in the Orphans’ Club Hall. This is the second year in which the festival has been held, and the large audience evidently appreciated the worth of the long hours of preparation spent by the performers. The festival, which is on a competitive basis, will conclude on Wednesday night, when the adjudication will be made. The three choirs taking part last night, those of the Roxburgh, Taieri and Broad Bay Women’s Institutes, each sang the hymn, “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind,” as well as an optional piece. Three half-hour plays were also performed. They were—- “ Two Aunts and a Grandmother,” by T. B Morris (Janefield W. 1.); a novelette by Phillip Johnston (Dunedin W.I. Centre), and “Red Wax,” by Edward Percy (Roxburgh W. 1.). The standard of the singing was good, with one choir giving an outstanding interpretation of the set piece. The plays were also well acted, each being characterised by the clear diction and good memory of the performers. The judge of the choirs is Mr Alen Meldrum, Mus. Bac., and Miss Heather Smith is adjudicating the plays