AMATEUR DRAMA

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

AMATEUR DRAMA

STRATFORD’S SUCCESS JUDGE FOR HAWERA FESTIVAL. NEWS FROM HERE AND THERE. (By ‘‘Haromi.") At the annual festival of the Wairarapa branch of the British Drama League, held at Masterton, St. Matthew’s Collegiate Old Girl’s team won with 82 points, with the Phoenix Drama Circle’s team second (80 points). The jAasterton Savage Club was third (78), only four points behind the winner with a locally written play, the author being Mr. C. C. Marsack, a member of the Savage Club- These three teams were each awarded a B certificate. Rather a remarkable coincidence is that for the third year in succession the winning play in the Wairarapa festival contained an all-female cast. There was an entry of eight teams. Mr.. E. S. Baldwin, Wellington, who judged at Hawera’s first area festival three years. ago, was the adjudicator. Taranaki Play-wright’s Success.

Apropos of a paragraph in the News on Wednesday regarding Dr. Merton Hodge’s new play, a word or two on the welcome the play received in both Birmingham and Manchester, before the London season opened, might be interesting. The play .“Grief Goes Over,” which is directed by Miss Auriol Lee, has undoubtedly high qualities, according to- a London correspondent, and, is about definitely real people, made more real by good acting. The following extract from a critique, of 'the Birmingham- Post gives a good idea of its reception from the public point of view, and a snatch of the theme employed:— "On the faee of it the-play is tragical, yet it has the mixture of laughter and tears that goes to make, up the whole of life. Even if one disliked the play it would still be interesting and enthrall-, ing because of the acting. Dame Sybil Thorndike and her fellows make it live ... In this Dr. Hodge has written a' much better play than “The Wind and The Rain,” because his theme has forced him- to tackle deeper things. In Blanche Oldham (played by Dame Sybil Thorndike) he has created a full character, with all the absorption of motherhood in her children. “Grief Goes Over” is her tragedy; but also it is. her triumph. The contrasts cannot be reduced into such simple terms, nor is its' philosophy so comforting, for the entire theme is that of ‘clutching at straws.’ Dame Sybil gives a beautifully human impersonation, rich and varied in its manifestations and strong in its. purpose. Also in the cast is Mr. Geoffrey Nares, son of the well-known actor Owen Nares, who is making his London debut.”. The play opened at St. Martin’s Theatre, London, a few weeks ago, with Dr. Hodge’s first play “The Wind and The Rain” having passed its 700 th performance and still going strong, also at London. Provincial News-

Aone-night festival of drama is to be held at 'Waita-. on Thursday next. August 12 and 13 are the dates decided on' by the Inglewood section of the Women's Institute to hold a drama festival, and it is likely that the programme will include a Stratford play.

Providing sufficient support and encouragement are forthcoming it is probable that four of the Stratford festival plays .will be presented at New Plymouth The secretary and stage' manager have already visited New Plymouth with a view to arranging for the staging of an evening of drama there. The Rahotu Dramatic Club staged a series of plays last night to a well filled hall. This is the second year in succession -this energetic little circle has treated the community to an evening of comedy and drama, the standard ndticably ' improving with each presentation. Hawera Women’s Club. .

The monthly, play-reading; at the. Hawera Women's Club has been postponed to August 11, when Aimee and Philip Stuart's enthralling arid entertaining play “Sixteen” (which was recently produced with great success at Wellington) will be presented. Hawera B.D.L.

At a meeting of the' South Taranaki area executive of the B.D.L. op Wednesday it was Unanimously .decided to raise the junior age limit to 18 years. There are now'six definite entries in the junior section for the September festival, two additional entries coming from the Hawerg junior play-reading group, They gr® “Phoebe Rebels” with an allgirl cast, and (most interesting) an allr boy cast in Clemence Dane’s play “Th® Hiding Place.’”' . Judge For Hawera.

It is understood that the judge for the Hawera festival next month will be either Mr, Arnold .F, Goodwin, Pi'Ofessor Sewell or Mr. Kenneth Frampton. This group is the selection of the executive for final decision. All three are well-known in amateur dheatricate, drama and art circles, and all are Aucklanders,

Central Taranaki Festival- - The successive three-nighta -■ Central Taranaki festival closed on Friday, capacity houses having greeted. _ the performers each night. The criticisms offered by the judge, Mr. Arnold F, Goodwin, Auckland, were without exception most helpful arid coristruetiy®, He has that priceless gift of - conveying exactly what he mens, and where words, would seem inadequate he displayed a truly remarkable talent in placing him” Self in any part and right away getting “into the sitin’’ of the character. Whether it was austere spinster, brutal villian or charming ingenue, seemed to trouble him not at all; Thus clever illustration of emphasised points was invaluable; as players could not fail to pick up the judge's interpretation. It was a happy suggestion of Mr. Goodwin’s .to give his remarks and demonstrations on the unaltered stage settings. Generally speaking the choice of play had not risen to a high enough standard, taking into consideration the tremendous enthusiasm and hard and effective work players were obviously willing to put in to chosen works, he said. The experience would be more valuable if such keenness, thought and ability were directed to a higher ideal of art. Gordon Bottomley’s works (none of which has so far been attempted in New Zealand), and “King Lear’s Wife” were cited as suggestions.

Snappy Commentaries. Throughout the festival comments offered by the judge were so concisely put that they might well become slogans for teams and producers. Among these notewoirihy examples were, the following:—

“There is more merit to fail in something worthwhile than to succeed in something mediocre.” “Look after your ‘key’ words.” (The ones the plot swings on.) “Enthusiasm is infectious, and it alone makes marvellous entertainment.” “Without enthusiasm you have nothing.” To producers Mr. Goodwin says, “Study the play not briefly but deeply. Choose it because you believe in it and be prepared to use all your imagination and enthusiasm on it—or don’t do it.” • .And. finally, and probably most im»

portent of fill in amateur work, “A play well begun i§ a play half dope,” s®id Mr. Goodwin in emphasising the vital importance of the first four minutes to the successful performance of a, one-act play. There is no time to “get warmed up”—one must get right into it.

The Competitive Spirit. . . , On many occasions Mr. Goodwin voiced hi® aversion to the spirit of qompetition- or ‘cup-hunting,’ which he said was ip danger of . being fostered by the movement, but it must be admitted that without this spirit, kindled with a keep and honest desire to do one’s best to co-operate , with the play-yzright, the producer, arid, th® whole team for .arts sake,- and te give expression to the idea beautiful, there would probably be no successful festival®. A certain, amount of competition •is necessary to. fire the energy and enthusiasm of most, mortals, and this is being influenced in, the right direction by the B-D,L. to _ enrich osrformers and audience alike in the growing art of expression • Another aspect is the "team” spirit which is happily being encouraged by festival requirements, Plays and Producers.

The. winning play at Stratford, Black Night,” by ■ John Bourne, was outstanding in its sustained atmosphere, general balance, tempo and details of stagecraft and setting. Mrs. F. P. Uniacke was the producer and toe cast included. Mrs. Steven, Misses C. and A. Uniacke and A. Hardy-Jones and Messrs. L. H. Jardine, Thompson and A. E. Pollock. Mr. A. H- R- Amess’ play • “On the Mountain” (produced by the author), and “Karl Ludwig’s Window,” by ’Saki’ and produced by Mrs. Uniacke, were placed second equal, each of the three mentioned plays receiving a B certificate. Of the other plays (producers mentioned in brackets), “Get Out of Your Cage” (Mrs. E. H. 'Young), “In Port” (Mr. Von Sturmer), “Your Sex Will Find You Out” (Mrs. Stokes), “Escape” (Mrs. E. H. Young) and “The Bishop’s Candlesticks” (Mr, Amess) were awarded “C” certificates. The two junior entries, “Tire Distant Relative” .(Mr.. W. Hall) and “Archibald” (Mrs. Uniacke) were placed equal, and the delightful comedy “Folly of Faith,” which concluded the festival on the right bright note, leaving everyone with., a„ buoyant feeling, w£s not entered for competition. Mrs. Uniacke was also th© producer of this praiseworthy presentation.