JUNIOR DRAMA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20474, 20 July 1936, Page 11

JUNIOR DRAMA

SUCCESS OF FIRST FESTIVAL Concluding on Saturday in the Little Playhouse, the first junior drama festival, organised by the South Canterbury Drama League, can be acclaimed an unqualified success. Launched on a modest scale the festival served to demonstrate the complete hold that community drama has taken in South Canterbury; indeed, the general high level of the work of the players not only delighted the officials of the League, but agreeably surprised the official critic. The work throughout the festival reflected the highest credit not only on the players but on the producers whose work was capably, intelligently and enthusiastically performed. On Saturday evening four plays were presented and the work of the young players (all under 18 years) was warmly applauded. “The Cellar Door.” The Trinity Bible Class presented a lively play, “The Cellar door." The action takes place in a house in Lombardy. T-’v. Briefly the story tells of 1 against Austria last centurj Signor Amlcls (leader of the L. .xdian revolutionaries) is assisted by two patriots, Mistress Nuntzzia and her son Antonio, to escape from the Austrians, that he might visit Milan to organise a revolt. Antonio’s wife Sofia, however, complicates the situation by denouncing her husband because of the poverty that has fallen upon her, and she endeavours to assist Matteo, a traitor, to betray Signor Amecls to the Austrians in exchange for a safe passage over the frontier and a large reward. The plot is frustrated by Antonio by the use of a secret passage and Matteo pays the penalty of his betrayal of his race. The characters in the play are: Antonio Nuntzzia (an Italian patriot), Sofia (his wife), Mistress Nuntzzia (his mother), Matteo (a neighbour), an Austrian officer and Signor Amicis (the leader of the revolt). The play was well staged and the players created that atmosphere that spells success in plays full of dramatic moments. “The Maker of Dreams,” St. Mary’s Girls’ Club presented Oliphant Down’s “The Maker of Dreams.” The play opens as Pierrette returns from the show to prepare tea. Pierrot enters a few minutes later feeling very cold and grumpy. Pierrette waits on him and is very cheerful because she is in love with him. But Pierrot does not return her love because his fancy has been caught by a beautiful girl whom he had seen at the show that day. In spit of Pierrette’s pleading he goes out in search of the girl. While he is away the Manufacturer (“The Maker of Dreams”) pays a visit. He gives both the young people some good advice, which they take in the end. The characters in the play are: Pierrette and Pierrot (engaged in the show business) and the Manufacturer. The play was presented with sparkle and the charm of the story was nicely preserved.

“The Coach and Horses.” The Boys’ High School presented “The Coach and Horses," by “A.A.” The Coach and Horses is an old seventeenth century inn, ever the haunt of highwaymen. It is said that the ghost of “a highwayman’s girt,” who was foully murdered in the place many years before, still haunts the inn, looking for any opportunity to take revenge by betraying all highwaymen and thieves. Strange sounds are often heard and the inn keeper, an old lag now going straight, knows the secret hiding place, but his plans to shield i jewel robber are frustrated by the ghost of the murdered girl. The principal characters are: Lenton (innkeeper), Slick Stanaway (a crook?, and Viner (a hiker). The play was well staged and mysterious feelings associated with haunted houses were conveyed to the audience. “The Recoil.” The Wesley Players staged “The Recoil” by Eric Logan. The scene is laid in a military outpost camp in India. Lieutenant Malone, a philosophical Irishman is reading by candle light. Second-Lieutenant Denny, just out from England, is preparing for a sleepless night and is pouring maledictions on India, and on a native musician, when Captain Frith makes a call. Denny is harassed by presentiments of impending tragedy, which the military doctor explains are due to weather conditions always prevailing just before the monsoon. He is called away to attend a snake-bitten native girl and on his return, while describing to Denny the fate of the girl, the rains come and the feelings of depression pass, After the doctor departs Denny hides the only box of matches to prevent Malone lighting his reading lamp, and on going to bed, rashly leaves open the door, through which tragedy glides, Denny’s own vindictiveness towards Malcne bringing about his undoing, doing. The characters in' the play are: Captain Frith (medical officer), Lieutenant Malone, Second-Lieutenant Denny and the officers’ batman. The play was well staged and presented with good pace and effect. Success of Festival. At the close of the festival, Dr. W. H. Unwin expressed the thanks of the executive to Miss Ngaio Marsh for the valuable assistance she had given by her sound advice and words of encouragement. He also thanked the youns players and the producers of the plays who had made the festival such a success. He was sure the results from all points of view would justify the executive making the festival an annual event. Miss Marsh returned thanks for the vote of appreciation. She said the work had been a pleasure to her because of the enthusiasm shown by all who were associated with the festival. It h’l been an experiment which had yielded a signal success. Miss Marsh then discussed some important aspects of production and gave valuable advice to the young players. Subsequently at supper Miss Marsh congratulated the executive of the South Canterbury Drama League on the success of the festival. She said she had been agreeably surprised at the high quality of the work; indeed, she would say that even the most modestly produced plays were well above the standard she had expected to witness. Mr W. G. Tweedy (chairman of ths Junior Festival Committee) thanked Miss Marsh for the assistance she had so capably given. He also paid a tribute to the efforts of the players and particularly the work of the producers

of the plays, the efficiency of whose work had been demonstrated in the high standard of production that had been maintained throughout the festival, which he was sure had so justified itself as to become an annual fixI ture.