Music and Plays Entertain League

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 843, 11 December 1929, Page 4

Music and Plays Entertain League

PENWOMEN’S EVENING WORK OF CLUB MEMBERS A delightful original evening, arranged by Mrs. Nello Porter, was given by the League of New Zealand Penwomen at the club rooms yesterday, this being the third of such evenings organised by Mrs. Porter. A EL the items presented are the original work of club members, no outside talent being introduced in their interpretation. The programme opened with a Rondo and Prelude by Weinurini, this being delightfully given by the league’s string quartet, consisting of Mrs. Hesketh, Miss Amy Stevenson, Miss Phillips and Miss Shelmerdine. They were enthusiastically recalled. Two songs, “The Flute Across the Water,” by Miss Edel Marie Jones, and “The Traveller,” words by Mrs. Maetier, music by Renee Satchwell, were artistically sung by Miss Amy Hansard. “Kotiro Poi,” by Mrs. IT. Trevelyan King, was charmingly given by the composer. A playlet entitled “Reunited,” by Mrs. Arthur Griffiths was ably performed by the author and Miss Gwynne Peacock, the theme showing the reunion of two sisters after many years, when the elder has become famous as an actress. The portrayal of Margaret, the maid, in her efforts to play Shakespeare, was amusingly given by Miss Peacock. A one-act play, “With Whom,” written by Isabel Maud Cluett, stressed the terms “who With” and “with whom,” the former being incorrectly used by the majority of members of a garden party, their illiteracy being checked by a particular young man who is writing a love poem. In this little play every one is in love, and the men spend their leisure in writing poems. SPURIOUS FORTUNE TELLER Air. George Moody, as the spurious Chinese fortune teller, caused much laughter. The cast consisted of Mrs. Brian Dunningham, Miss Gwynne Pea-

cock, Miss Joyce Porter and Mr. George Moody. “The Perfidy of Percy,” a one-act farce, written by Mrs. Jean Boswell, was well received. It depicted a modern mother who wanted to keep young, and to this end insisted upon her daughter Angela, who is 18, remaining in the orthodox “gym” attire, in spite of the fact that unknown to her parent, Angela has become engaged to Percy, the perfidious one, who is seeking a fortune. The finale, where Percy transfers his attentions to the mother, sealing the engagement with the same ring that he gave to Angela, was very laughable. Mrs. John Barr, as the smart maid, was very effective. The cast consisted of Mrs. Nello Porter, Mrs. F. Hutchinson, Mrs. Barr and Mr. Dale. A delightful scene from “The Girl From China,” a successful play, written by Mrs. Ethel Schmidtt, which has received special notice on several occasions, was given by Katherine Pounsett, Leila Morgan, Beryl Poulton and Eva Stares, the fine singing of Miss Stares deserving especial notice. The scene was ably produced by Mrs. Schmidtt, the music being by permission of J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Two poems, "Tell Us a Story.” and “A Dreamer of Dreams,” composed by Mrs. Edna Macky, were given by the author. n A minuet by Bach, and “Sarabande, by Boccherini, brought to a close a most enjoyable evening. Airs. Alary Stuart Boyd, president of the league. in thanking all those members who had helped to make the evening such a success, spoke in eulogistic terms of Mrs. Nello Porter, who had arranged all the dramatic functions of the league, and worked with untiring efforts for their success. The league had much to be proud of in its possession of members who had outstanding talent, two of whom had recently produced books, Airs. Isabel Maud Peacock, with her “Waif’s Progress,” and Miss Elsie? K. Morton’s “Joy of the Road.” There were so many others who had made their mark that it would be difficult to mention all, but the league was thoroughly proud of its achievements. The accompanists for the evening were Miss Satchwell. Mrs. Osborne and Airs. Hutchinson.