THE DRAMA

Southland Times, Issue 22766, 17 December 1935, Page 8

THE DRAMA

“DREAMS AND VISIONS” MR J. J. W. POLLARD’S WORK 4 TRIBUTE BY REPERTORY SOCIETY The extent to which the services to amateur operatic and dramatic circles in Invercargill of Mr J. J. W. Pollard arc appreciated by the members of the respective societies was illustrated last evening, when Mr and Mrs Pollard were the guests of honour at a social evening held in the Orphans’ Hall. The occasion was a farewell arranged by the Invercargill Repertory Society to its president and honorary producer, who will leave Invercargill shortly. The hall was crowded, the society being fully represented and the attendance including a number who had worked with Mr Pollard in operatic productions. “If ever the members of this society have gathered together in a common cause, they have done so to-night,” said Mr A. R. Dunlop, honorary secretary. “We are here to wish a triumphant farewell to Mr Pollard, who has given us a leadership inspired by dreams and visions. The spirit which was his driving force has been passed into the groups of the society, which are just beginning to realize and therefore appreciate just what his dreams and visions really are.” There was a spaciousness and a refusal to be fettered about Mr Pollard’s guidance that had given it a rare quality, and which had been of inestimable value to the society in its attempts to seek out the truth of life as represented by the best craftsmen of the stage, he continued. Mr Pollard was an idealist, but he was a realist, too, although not of the harsh type that had come to dominate modern commercial life. “I can only express to Mr Pollard the society’s deepest and most sincere thanks for all he has done for it,” he added. “His liberality of time and energy and enthusiasm makes any comparison with liberality of money quite futile.”

Reflected Taste. Mr Dunlop concluded by reading a letter from a member of the society which, he said, expressed the feelings of every individual member of every group. “I should like to join in paying a tribute of appreciation of Mr Pollard’s many valuable voluntary services in the cultural activities of this community,” the letter began. “In various branches of art and literature local interest has received a marked impetus under his enlightened guidance. The work of the Repertory Society has reflected selective taste and technical skill added to a clear conception of the ideas and the spirit embodied in the dramas and operas . so happily interpreted by the society. It has been a revelation of the fine possibilities of amateur enterprise in that field of culture. It has helped us to keep in touch with the soul of our own age seeking to express itself on the modern stage. For that educative good service, we have chiefly to thank Mr Pollard, who in other capacities will be greatly missed in Invercargill. May I claim a share in conveying to him our grateful acknowledgement and our abiding good wishes.” Mrs R. S. Mclnnes, speaking for the ladies of the society, said it was admitted readily by all of them, and particularly by the younger members, that they had been shown the meaning of the drama as a direct result of Mr Pollard’s idealism. The society was a young organization, but already it had travelled a long way, and it was felt that it had been taken to the stage from which it could go on, even without Mr Pollard’s guidance. “We are extremely fortunate that the society has had Mr Pollard’s services for so many years,” she said. “He has put us on to the path of testing ourselves.” Mrs Mclnnes referred also to the help given by Mrs Pollard, who had assisted Mr Pollard in many ways to give all that he had given. Depth of Insight “ ‘There are few men who have the depth of insight in what they take up that Mr Pollard has proved on countless occasions that he possesses,’” said Mr A. F. Grenfell. “That was said to me privately and sincerely the other day by a mutual friend, and I think it is as fine a tribute as could be paid to the ability of any man. It expresses exactly what so many of us feel.” Mr Grenfell referred to several phases of the operatic and dramatic life of the city to illustrate .Mr Pollard’s ability to see right into a work and to put characters into performers so that they came out in a purely individual manner. “He has coached, instructed and advised, but always his aim as a producer has been to make the performer understand the character for himself or herself. And he has been successful,” said Mr Grenfell. “He is not a man who makes •?. decision or refuses to deviate from a set course. He has always been willing to consider another point of view, just as he has always striven to get his performers to live their characters. I know of no one else in this part of New Zealand who has his breadth of vision.” Mr Grenfell referred to several other phases of Mr Pollard’s work as a producer, quoting the opinion given to him recently by a film representative that for dialogue and the direction of a picture he had never worked with Mr Pollard’s superior. He mentioned also that visiting artists had told him that they considered Mr Pollard’s musical and dramatic criticisms in the Southland Times among the best in New Zealand. “It seems a dismal future without Mr Pollard,” he concluded. “His departure will leave a gap that cannot be filled. We all feel that way in our minds, but it does not do to dwell on that. We have all had the benefit of his knowledge and patience, and we must go on.” Drama for the People. Mr Grenfell presented to Mr Pollard a set of dress cuff links and a wallet, inscribed with the good wishes of the society. Mr Pollard was given an ovation as he rose to reply. “Mr Dunlop spoke of dreams and visions,” he said. “One of my dreams has been the establishment of a theatre of the drama in this part .of New Zealand. I am not at all concerned with the guncrack of competitive productions, but with the drama that belongs to the people. The society has accomplished much, but I think another year - is necessary before it will reach the stage at which one can be confident that the structure will stand.” There was no cause for members of the society to visualize a dismal future, he continued. “Invercargill has been called the dead-end of New Zealand. It can’t help being an end, but if it is a dead end that can only be a fault of its people,” he said. “Unless there are men and women who will see to it that there is food for the soul, the country must sink to the depths to which it would deserve to sink. There seems to me to be a gleam of hope ahead for the soul of this Dominion, and I promise you that I will do all I can to convince the ‘powers that be’ that there is a great opportunity for a magnificent and essential work, that of developing the various arts and in developing the people in those arts. All I have done with this society, I have done because I wanted to do it and be-

cause I enjoyed doing it,” he said, expressing Mrs Pollard’s and his appreciation of the gift made to them by the society. “I - thank you all for your comradeship,” he added. “Keep the standard up, and the work must progress, and ultimately it must win out.” Earlier in the evening a combined orchestra played a selection from “The Arcadians” and “In a Chinese Temple Garden.” Miss T. Mac Ewan and Mr Dunlop read the comediettina for two voices, “Village Wooing,” by Bernard Shaw. It was well read and well received. Mr Pollard sang a character song, “The Captain of the Marguerite” (O’Hara), Moussorgsky’s setting of “The Song of the Flea,” and for a second rncore “The Eagle” (Carl Busch).