WAIMATE DRAMA CIRCLE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21155, 30 September 1938, Page 3

WAIMATE DRAMA CIRCLE

FIRST FESTIVAL AWARDS ANNOUNCED A capacity house was present In the Olympia Hall on Wednesday night for the closing session of the Waimate Repertory Society’s Drama Festival. Four additional plays were presented, after which the judge. Miss Inglis, of Timaru, named the first winners of the challenge shield presented by Mrs A. G. Pitts. “The community drama has come to Waimate to stay and grow," said Mr M. Leadbetter, president of the Society, in congratulating the players on the high standard of the performances and thanking all who had contributed to the success of the festival. “I consider this has been an excellent beginning for a Drama Festival,” said Miss Inglis in announcing her decision. Not one play had been a failure and the players without exception had shown ability. The choice of plays, however, had been generally light, and she advised them for the next festival to choose something more dramatic and ambitious. The awards were announced as follows: "A Little Bit of Life, Hook Circle .. 1 “Spinsters of Lushe—Episode 2,” Morven Circle 2 “No Servants,” Hook Circle 3 The first placed performance, said Miss Inglis, was on the whole the best produced play and contained the most even cast. The players in the “Spinsters of Lushe” had tackled a very difficult play but had travelled far on the right lines. “No Servants” was also well cast and the work of the players was on the whole quite good. Mr Leadbetter read a message from Mr A. E. Lawrence, acting-president of the South Canterbury Drama League, wishing the festival success culturally and financially. “We have to thank Waimate for their valuable co-opera-tion in the Timaru festival,” Mr Lawrence added. After expressing appreciation of the message, Mr Leadbetter went on to thank those responsible for the success of the festival, mentioning particularly two members of the subcommittee, Mrs Pitts, who had travelled many miles around the district stimulating Interest, and Mrs Friel, who had done a great deal of work in arrangements for the presentation as w T as producing two plays. He also paid a high tribute to the judge who, by her kindly criticism, had given much helpful advice to the players and producers and had aroused ambition to do better in the future. The shield was presented to the winning team by the donor, Mrs Pitts, and the producer (Mrs Winning) thanked Mrs Pitts for her generous gesture in providing the shield for competition, and expressed appreciation of the kindly and constructive criticism of Miss Inglis. Bouquets were presented to Miss Inglis and to Mrs Pitts. Mrs Pitts said that most of the credit for the festival was due to Mr Leadbetter, who had been the first to suggest it and had organised and managed it from start to finish. Waituna Circle "Beauty Culture,” a short comedy enacted in a beauty parlour, was presented by the Waituna Circle. The story turns on the' excitement of the beauty parlour attendants at the patronage of the conceited winner of the Gloria Delmar film star contest and their condescension towards the second prize winner who, in a happy climax, reveals herself as the real Gloria Delmar. The cast was: Madame Miranda, Mrs W. Wilson; Miss Nicholls, Mrs Smart; Miss Carter, Mrs Baker; Mts Juggins. Mrs Haywood; Maggie, Mrs J. Barrie; Miss Jones, Mrs W. Ross; Miss Benson, Mrs A. F. Sargent. Mrs M. J. Friel was producer. This play was suitable for a cast of women with no previous stage experience, said Miss Inglis in comment, but being so short it was difficult to place it on the same footing with the others. The setting was excellent and well thought out, and the dresses tastefully chosen. The players should strive for contrast of voice and temperament to hold the attention of the audience. Mrs Wilson acted her part nicely but could have been more authoritative as head of the salon. Mrs Baker handled the telephone conversation well and Mrs Smart was very effective in her reminiscence. Mrs Haywood got her laughs from behind the screen and assisted in a good climax. With her animated acting Mrs Barrie showed signs of promise; and really suggested the type she was supposed to be. Mrs W. Ross had a small part and effectively suggested the superior manner, while Mrs Sargent made a nice easy entrance and gave a good performance. On the whole it was a very pleasing performance. Hook Circle The Hook Circle staged “No Servants,” an amusing story of what happened when a young lady, deserted by her servants, is left to prepare a repast for a young gentleman of whom she has hopes. The cast was: Victoria, Mrs E. C. Wilkin; Mrs Sparrow, Miss S. White; Harris, Miss Langley; Maud, Mrs Todd; Agnes, Mrs C. Rose; Francis, Mr P. Newall. Mrs J. C. Winning was producer. This was a slight play which provided good entertainment, said Miss Inglis. The opening was bright, but some of the cues were slowly picked up. While they had the stage, the four servants kept the action going well. Mrs Todd spoke well and got point into her lines and Mrs Rose had a good sense of comedy which was appreciated by the audience. Mrs Wilkin had a big part and put In some excellent work, but made the character rather mournful instead of vivacious. Mr Newall was very pleasing and showed decided ability. His entrance lifted up the play and kept it going, but he did not appear sufficiently sophisticated for the part. Miss Inglis amused the audience with her advice on stage embraces and concluded by saying that the play had

gone over well and had been an enjoyable performance. Morven Circle “The “Spinsters of Lushe—Episode 2” was staged by the Morven Circle. This one-act comedy was presented in the drawing room of Miss Charlotte Bright, the leader of society in the little village of Lushe, 1812. The cast: Miss Charlotte Bright, Mrs Hassall; Miss Letitia Thurlow, Mrs Tumaru; Miss Alicia Pramley, Mrs McKeich; Miss Rosie Pramley, Mrs Sutherland; Phoebe, Mrs E. Marshall; Miss Lucy Pemberton, Miss Rona McAleer. Mrs Tumaru was producer. This was a type of play much more difficult to perform than it appeared, commented Miss Inglis. The dialogue was delightful, but the full savour of it could be brought only by good stage technique. The setting had been very pleasing, but the chairs were too evenly arranged around the room and there could have been more variation in the positions of the players. They had been working on the right lines, however, although they did not have the experience to get there altogether. Mrs Tumaru made good use of gesture and facial expression. Mrs Hassall had some very good moments in her work. Mrs McKeich looked her part as the dominant female, but could have shown more emphasis in her voice. Mrs Sutherland acted the younger sister well, but was inclined to anticipate her reproofs. Mrs Marshall did well as the maid and could have been more demure. Miss McAleer made a good entrance but should have sustained her agitation more. Considering the difficulty of the play, Miss Inglis said the performers were to be highly commended. Wailiao Downs Circle The final play of the evening was presented by members of the Waihao Downs Circle. “Distant Relatives” relates the story of Augustus Price who after ten years in prison arrives at her sister’s home to find them preparing for their daughter's wedding to Alfred Potter. Ethel and Alfred are not aware of Price’s'record and a climax is reached when he tries to obtain Alfred Potter’s savings. The cast was: Mrs Spriggs, Mrs Green; Mr Spriggs, Mr Gil Thomas; Alfred Potter, Mr T. Rolfe; Ethel Spriggs, Miss Margaret Green; Augustus Price, Mr Frank Trott. Mrs E. C. d’Auvergne was producer. This was an amusing comedy which needed to go at a quick tempo, said Miss Inglis. On the whole it had been taken rather slowly. Mrs Green kept well in the picture even when listening. Mr Thomas showed ability in acting and had some good moments in his work, but was Inclined to be too fidgety. Mr Rolfe and Miss Green had little to do but carried off the part effectively. Although Inclined to exaggerate the part, Mr Trott also had some good moments and showed a sense of comedy. The play had given the audience good entertainment, and while the players lacked experience they showed definite ability. WAIMATE HIGH SCHOOL Good fields took part in the annual cross country run at the Waimate High School yesterday. In the senior event R. Moir was first home and registered fastest time with 16 minutes 36 seconds. Second fastest time went to D. Campbell (17mm 4sec) and third to W. Tumaru (17min 9sec). T. Eade was the first to finish in the junior event. The fastest times were registered by J. Crichton (18min 19sec), J. Dustan (18min 28sec), and C. Joyce (18min 29sec). The challenge cups were presented by Mrs S. Dixon, the senior cup (Mr S. Dixon's) to R. Moir and the junior (Mrs S. Dixon’s) to J. Crichton. GOLF The following is the draw for the handicap and non-handlcap foursomes to be played by members of the Waimate Ladies’ Golf Club to-day: Mrs Deacon and Mrs P. Grant v. Mrs Ruddenklau and Miss E. Bltchener; Mrs Leadbetter and Mrs Watters v. M!rs Fraser and Miss Burrows; Miss Stevens and Mrs Schraeder v. Mrs Healey and Miss B. Bitchener; Mrs Brock and Mrs Richards V. Mrs Kellett and partner. PERSONAL Mr C. Waterwprth and Mr S. Christian, of Wanganui, are the guests of Mr and Mrs E. E. Nicholas, Manse Street. Miss Stephens, Oamaru, is spending a few days with Mrs J. J. Healey, Belt Street. Mr and Mrs D. G Ashley returned to Waimate yesterday after a visit to England, Ireland and France.