PLEASING DRAMA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19641, 8 November 1933, Page 2

PLEASING DRAMA

PLAYS BY W.E.A. CLASS LITTLE PLAYHOUSE PACKED The prominent place the Literature and Dramatic Class of the Timaru Workers’ Educational Association occupies in dramatic circles in South Canterbury was fully evident by the success which attended the presentation of three plays in the Little Playhouse last night, when the building was too small to provide adequate seating accommodation for the large audience. Miss D. Kilworth. secretary of the class, presided, and introduced the plays, two of which claimed their origin from Timaru pens. Thoroughness was the keynote of the proceedings, every attention being paid to mounting, cast and presentation. The fact that different casts were provided for each work was an example of the growth of and the enthusiasm displayed In this branch of the Association’s activities. The audience was not slow to appreciate each effort, which was concluded to the accompaniment of hearty applause. “The Price of Power.” A psychological story, having for its basis a series of mental conflicts in which many instincts were brought into activity, was “The Price of Power” written by Mr W. J. Parsons, a member of the Drama and Literature Class. It opened with Hugh Aynsley, a parliamentary candidate (Mr C. F. Higginson) preparing a speech for his campaign. Bessie, his wife (Mrs Smith) entered, and the pair surveyed the prospects for the coming fight, which to the former seemed rather gloomy on account of the opponent’s position and influence. Discussion on the many difficulties, during which the husband's desire for power was very apparent, was interrupted by the arrival of the opposing candidate, Theo Baine (Mr H. Shepherd), who regarded Aynsley as his best friend. In a private talk, Baine, a distinguished chemist, disclosed to Aynsley how, in his student days, he had robbed a great friend of the patent rights of a special formula, as a result of which he was now famous. The confession made, Baine then left to face an election meeting. Mrs Smith, a fortune teller (Mrs C. Triggs) fired the yearnings of Aynsley for power by forecasting for him his chances of honour, riches and power, and in spite of the loftier ideals of his wife, Aynsley, obsessed with the opportunities before him, made a sudden determination to use his opponent’s confession to the advantage of his own campaign. He recanted at the psychological moment, however, and the fortune teller’s forecast took materir’ form when news was brought by Dr. Thorpe (Mr E. W. Jones) of Baine’s death following a heart attack. Aynslt s election unopposed, and the fact that he and his wife were the beneficiaries in Baine's will, brought the piece to a satisfactory conclusion. The play was well interpreted by a capable cast. Story of Early Gold Rush. “Yellow Dust,” by Miss Averille Lawrence, which was awarded fiftn place in the 1931 play-writing competition promoted by the South Canterbury Drama League, and which was ranked third amongst the South Canterbury entries, was a refreshing type of story, made all the more appealing by its well-balanced cast of characters. It took the minds of the audience back to the gold boom of 1862 in Central Otago, where in the kitchen of the cottage of Alf Dingle, a squatter (Mr G. Griffiths), his daughter Nora (Miss P. Cunningham) was entreating her father to participate with others in the search for the precious metal. Deaf to her desires for the chance of living in Dunedin and the prospects of betterment through a gold find, Dingle announced his preference for the solitude of a squatter’s existence, and deprecated the activities of the gold seekers in the peaceful valleys. Jack Watkinson, a prospector (Mr S. Williams), was unsuccessful too In enticing Dingle to partner him in an endeavour to secure the reward offered for the finding of gold in the district, and warned the adamant squatter of his suspicions that already someone was active. Mrs Morland (Miss L. E. Law) provoked Dingle’s ire with the suggestion that the squatter was already engaged in secret prospecting, and was severely denounced for her statement that a suspicious red light had been seen flashing near the house at unseemly hours. The play took a startling turn when the lamp appeared near the window, and only strategy on the part of Dingle avoided a decidedly unpleasant situation. Alone in the kitchen Dingle then admitted Tom Spencer, a prospectc (Mr G. Chap-l!-.:n), who carried the lamp, and rebuked him for his carelessness. Fears that their secret find might become known, prompted the two to decamp that night for Dunedin to claim the reward, a few nuggets being left on the table for Nora, whose father remarked, was a girl to be trusted, and “would fully understand.” Bright Comedy. Comedy with the highest entertaining qualities was previded in “Ali the Cobbler,” a Pern an play from the pen of Martin Shepherd, an Englishman, who had the distinction of having this work included in a book of the best plays of 1932. Again the acting was of an outstanding nature, and the witty dialogue had the audience in happy mood. Ali (Mr P. W. Donaldson) was of the subdued type of husband, whose shrewdish wife Fatima (Mrs S. A. Odell) lost no opportunity of exercising her authority by force. The revolutionary advice of Said, All’s brother (Mr S. A. Odell) was sound in policy, but material execution was beyond the physical powers of the harassed Ali. When Mustapha, Fatima's cousin (Mr B. Lane), whose outstanding quality was a healthy appetite, arrived at the house to give effect to this quality, Ali was relegated to the position of a servant, and could stand no core the dominance of the pair. In col .boration with Said, who had purloined a jar of “poison” from his master, Ali decided to end it all. The “poison,” however, had a very different effect than anticipated. It stirred the two into great activity and brought about the downfall of the oppressors. The play was cleverly constructed, the final passage being as amusing as it was unexpected. During the changing of the scenes, Items were given by the following:— Miss J. Higginson (songs), Mr R. Milligan (cornet solos), and Mr C. Goulding (songs). Mrs A. Toynbee was accompanist. Services Recognised. Appreciation of the services of the tutor-lecturers, Messrs W. J. Scott and A. H. McLlntock, was made on behalf of members of the class, by Miss KHworth, who presented each with a cheque. “We have to offer our lecturers a hundred thanks,” said Miss Kilworth. “Their lectures have been just splendid, and it is difficult to

express what we really think of them.” (Laughter.) “The students admired and appreciated immensely the lecturers’ vast knowledge of their subjects, and their unselfishness in sharing that knowledge.” (Applause.) In acknowledging the gifts on behalf of Mr McLintock anc himself, Mr Scott thanked the students for their expressions. He said that the lecturers had enjoyed their work, and although he wished to stand down for a year, and he thought Mr McLintock had a similar desire, he thought that their services would again be available later if required.