THREE SHORT PLAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1935, Page 6

THREE SHORT PLAYS

MATIERE DRAMATIC SOCIETY. SOME CREDITABLE ACTING. The Matierc hall was crowded on Friday evening with people from all parts of the district who, with memories of the splendid performance last 'ear, assembled in expectation of another treat. The three one-act plays given were a great success. Careful rehearsing end much hard work over the last few months resulted in a finished performance, great credit being due to the producer, Mrs. A. Taylor... The opening play was entitled “Another Pair of Spectacles,” a farce in one act by Victor Bridges. The parts were George Hastings (Mr. C. Stack), his wife Eveleen (Miss D. Alanson) and Cripps, the butler (Mr. W. Baker). It was an after-dinner scene in ?. London society home and the butler Cripps had been discovered helping himself to his master s cigars and wine. With the aid of a supposedly magic pair of Chinese spectacles with which one could see into the mind of a person being spoken to, Cripps was successfully accused but he put on the spectacles himself and in turn related indiscretions of both husband and wife in past love affairs, thus turning the tables in his favour. As Mr. Hastings Mr. C. Stack acted with success, showing evidence of previous successful stage work. Miss D. Alanson as Eveleen, the wife, also filled her part very well, bein’ well suited for her part. Mr. W. Baker as Cripps, the butler, also performed with credit. The three performers secured well-deserved applause. The second play was entitled The Matiere Amateurs Present,” the scene being the dressing room of the actresses in a play, “Heart’s Aflame,” which was in the course of presentation in an unseen hall. This was a sketch written by Mabel Constanduros, and was the most popular of the three plays. The performance included scenes of the making up of the actresses, the entrance of actors and rehearsals. Credit for the best arid most popular performance of the evening undoubtedly was due to Miss J. Andrews who, as the maid, was really splendid. Miss C. Roebuck, as Zephine (Mrs. Glenister), the leading lady, used both voice and action with admirable effect. Mr. C. Stack, as Billy (Mr. Glenister), the leading man, again carried out his part successfully, and caused much merriment. Mr. R. Porter, as Jerry Montague, the producer, was also very good. Mr. A. Beaton as Toby Mcßride, the young man, acted extremely well. Miss K. Baker as Audrey Peterson, the young girl, filled the role of pacifying her aunt, who was very anxious for her to “never do anything the canon would not approve of,” and her scenes with the young man were very well done. Miss J. Andrews as Gladys Dickensen, the maid, was a real pleasure to watch and received deserved applause from an appreciative audience as the most popular and successful character of the evening. Mrs. G. Baker as Miss Hannah Petersen, tno. shocked and horrified aunt, was also a very popular character and received wellearned applause for good acting. The third play produced was entitled “The Man in the Bowler Hat,” by A. A. Milne, and was of a different type from the other two, being one of action and mystery revolving round a staid and respectable middle-aged couple, who while deploring the absence of any thrills ana sensations hr their life, are suddenly started by the report of a revolver shot and landed in the midst of mystery and adventure. Then we have the hero and heroine, the chief villain and his bad man and the mystery of the Rajah's ruby with John and Mary getting their excitement at last. Mr. A. Taylor as John the husband was splendid. With a revolver thrust into his hand by the hero and the orders to be quiet and listen, he displays nervousness and assumed bravery in turn. Mrs. G. Baker,, as Mary, his wife, also acted her part very well. Mr. W. Baker, the hero, was in possession of the Rajah’s ruby and promises the heroine never to part with it to the villain, her father, because of the awful complications that would be caused. Miss K. Baker, as the heroine, did not have a very lengthy role but fulfilled her part well. Mr. Ri Porter as the chief villain was very successful indeed, his stealthy stalking of the hero and his capture, his display of rage and final collapse from the effects of his emotions at the failure to secure the ruby were well acted and enjoyed. Mr. A. Beaton as the bad man showed keen enjoyment in the torture of the hero. Mr. A. K. Margan, as the man in the bowler hat, was the silent spectator, representing the producer at a rehearsal. As a result of the very successful evening the funds of the Matiere Plunket Society benefited considerably. At the conclusion of the performance the ladies were presented with bouquets.