FOUR ONE-ACT PLAYS

Southland Times, Issue 25747, 10 August 1945, Page 7

FOUR ONE-ACT PLAYS

W.E.A. DRAMA GROUP PRODUCTIONS

Four one-act plays presented in St. John’s Hall last night by the W.E.A. Drama Group showed that the group has plenty of talent among its members. Well chosen and providing plenty of variety, the plays were excellently produced and were well received by tile audience. It was unfortunate that several counter-attractions last night affected the attendance.

The plays chosen were Clifford Box’s “Tragic Nesta,” the entertaining comedy “Everybody Comes to Mabel,” by T. B. Morris, “John’s Mother,” and the amusing “The Twelve Pound Look,” by James Barrie.

“Tragic Nesta” was produced by Mrs H. W. Slater. The cast was: Sybil (Miss L. Stewart), Mahel (Mr P. Ross), Nesta (Miss N. McLachlan), Sir Brian (Mr G. Gunn), servants (Messrs H. Crook and D. Gunn). The time was in the 12th century and the setting in a roofn in Brecon Castle. Miss McLachlan carried a big part in the play. As Nesta, lady of Brecon Castle, she displayed abilityabove the average. She controlled her voice well.

In lighter vein, “Everybody Comes to Mabel” kept the audience amused. As Mabel Knowles, a rather excitable and absent-minded woman, to whom everyone came with their troubles, mostly matrimonial troubles, Miss E. Nelson gave a convincing performance. Miss U. Banks, as Sonia Lancaster, and Miss L. McLachlan, as Pearl Willison, were two women seeking advice and they were in danger of coming to blows when Miss L. Stewart, as Madame Cianvelli, a prima donna, made a dramatic entrance. These three gave a bright performance. The audience enjoyed Miss N. McLachlan as Esther, the maid, and Miss G. Watson played her part well as Daphne, Mabel’s daughter, who was a girl guide interested in knots and things. Faith, a companion, was played by Miss M. Gibson. While placidly knitting throughout she kept putting in her “spoke” and she had the last say. Altogether it was an amusing play cast for female players. The producer was Mrs Slater.

Miss N. McLachlan finished off a strenuous evening when she gave another sound performance as Mrs Grandison, an elderly woman, in “John’s Mother.” Mr H. Crook was good in the part of John, and as an old woman, John’s mother, Mrs Evans came through her few lines successfully. Miss McLachlan was the producer.

The final presentation, “The Twelve Pound Look,” was produced by Mrs Slater. Miss L. McLachlan and Mr H. Crook contained the play almost throughout. As Kate, a typist, and former wife of Sir Harry Sims (Mr Crook), Miss McLachlan succeeded in living her part. Mr Crook was sound as the blustering rich Sir Harry. Miss U. Banks took the part of Lady Sims at shoi-t notice and although she had to read it she did it very well. Mr G. Gunn was Tombs, the butler. Musical interludes were provided by Mrs Richardson, Mr H. W. Slater and Mr H. Strang. Musical interludes for piano and string were played by Mrs J. Richardson (piano) and Messrs H. V. Strang (violin) and H. W. Slater (’cello). The following items were played:—“Polish Dance” (Scharwenka), “La Cinquantaine” (Gabriel Marie), “Marche Viennaise” and “Syncopation” (Kreisler), “Three-Fours Waltz” (Coleridge Taylor) and “Salut d’Amour” (Elgar).