FOUR PLAYS

Southland Times, Issue 25313, 17 June 1935, Page 8

FOUR PLAYS

LITTLE SOUTHLANDERS THIS WEEK’S EFFORTS CHILDREN HELPING CHILDREN In presenting plays to the public the Little Southlanders, of the page in the Southland Times conducted by Cousin Betty have always enjoyed the advant age of appearing in works written in their own membership. With the 1935 series they have written a dozen plays good enough for production, and they have enjoyed giving them to the public to raise funds for some worthy object appropriate to their activities. To write plays is one thing, to present them is another, and so the Little Southlanders work strenuously in rehearsals m order that the authors may be given the best possible chance to see what they have written presented with effect. This year there are four short plays in the programme which will be offered for public consumption on Thursday and Friday next at the Civic Theatre. The curtain will rise at 7.45 p.m. so that the plays can be finished at a little after 10. The four reveal a variety of interest. In one, ’“Dreams and Dubloons” there are pirates and coastguards, with gold and an unusual statue, to add to the mystery and_ excitement resulting from a small boys interest in adventure stories. In another play the audience is carried to medieaval times, and the scenes inwhich satire has a part, will see what happened to Sir Dermod the Dismal when he rode off on his charger Mephistofeles in search of a beauteous lady and a fiery dragon. This is called “A Damsel in Distress.” Then in The Photo” there is a theme for senior children, a play of sentiment in which singing and dancing have a part. In this play a young girl is delivered from misery by the evidence of a photograph. Finally to flowerland the audience goes in “Rosebuds and Royalty,” a play of the garden written round the quarrel between the rose and the sweet-pea over their respective titles to majesty. Opportunities for songs and dancing are offered by this play too, the setting and dressing of which should be unusually attractive. These plays are being performed in aid of the Karitane-Hunt Hospital, and the public interest already shown gives promise of a large audience. The box plan is at Begg’s, and seats may be reserved without extra charge. In view of the successes of the Little Southlanders’ previous efforts they look forward to the chance to please the public again and to give two nights of enjoyment to children, old and young, at the Civic Theatre this week.