THE STAGE ABROAD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 11

THE STAGE ABROAD

WORK OF DRAMA LEAGUE ELIZABETH BLAKE’S IMPRESSIONS News of the activities of the British Drama League abroad, and of the stage and film world in general, is brought by Miss Elizabeth Blake (Mrs C. \ Natusch), who visited Hamilton to judge in the North Island final of the Drama League (says “The Waikato Times”). Miss Blake, who recently returned to New Zealand after visiting England, South Africa and the United States, was the apostle of the British Drama League to ‘New Zealand, and is still very much interested in the work that organisation is carrying on in all parts of the Empire, and, of course, in the stage generally. “One thing I think can be claimed for the British Drama League,” said Miss Blake, “is that after the advent of the talking picture and the depression. which dealt such a blow to the legitimate stage, it has helped very materially to keep alive an interest in the living theatre, and has been a factor in bringing back into popular favour the theatre we all love so much.

Wonderful Work of League

“The league is doing wonderful work. Not only is it fostering little groups of players everywhere and promoting those festivals in which the public are taking an ever-increasing interest, but it is endeavouring to improve the standard of judging. When speaking to Frances McKenzie, the secretary of the league, at headquarters in London, I was informed that good amateurs Bad just about reached saturation point. By that I mean that they had done as well as they could with the producers at their disposal, and that to get better performances they would have to have producers who could do better.

“Thus another way of approach devised is the introduction of a policy of examinations for producers. This examination, I was informed, was a pretty stiff one. Any society engaging a producer could be tolerably certain of getting value if that person had passed the league’s examination. Many are called and few are chosen. Miss McKenzie said that they flooded in from all parts to undergo the test, full of confidence, but, alas, many of them left in tears. Only three out of 20 got through; that will convey how stiff the examination is. A Capetown Performance Having spent a considerable amount of her time in Capetown. Miss Blake did not see as much of the stage on this occasion as on previous visits to the Old Country. In Capetown she lectured at the university and had the very good fortune to see one performance by the amateurs there. “I say fortunate because on this occasion they had the services of Leontine Sagen, quite a figure in the London producing world, who, I gathered, was a South African. Shaw’s ‘Doctor’s Dilemma’ was the play—and it was a fine performance. In the first place, nearly everyone in Capetown who thought they could act offered, and nearly all were rejected. Naturally

there was considerable gnashing of teeth in the best circles. Anyhow, Miss Sagen proved that she knew her business, for the performance was of a very high standard and all Capetown had to admit it.” Miss Blake was twice in London, before and after her visit to South Africa. Outstanding Plays in London Tne three outstanding plays of the season were all American. These were “Idiot's Delight,” “Amphitryon 38” (in which Mr Lunt and Miss Fontanne were wonderful), and “the Golden Boy,” which she considered excellent theatre, although not by any means an outstanding play. There was quite a controversy over the last-named play, which James Agate set going. Although that critic never said "The Golden Boy” was a good play, he went as far as to say that it was one of the very few plays which had not bored him during the season, a season, by the way, not remarkable for the production of many good plays. “Another fine show was ‘The First Legion,” by Emmet Lavery, played by an all-male cast. The scene was the interior of a Jesuit establishment, and it was a very remarkable play, capitally done.

French and Russian Films “I should say that the outstanding feature of the season in London has been the success of the new French and Russian films,” said Miss Blake. In these exquisitely done pictures there is no exploitation of stars, and nobody is paid the salary of even one of the lesser Hollywood stars; but the standard of acting is very high and even

and the tehenique subtle to a degree. You see, in France, the film actor is the stage actor, and, under very competent direction, the training that actor has had on the stage comes into value on the screen. Yes, these pictures, comedy and drama, were really excellent. I enjoyed every one I saw. A Bernard Shaw Festival “On the way across America I stayed with the director of the School of Theatre at Pasadena, in California,” continued Miss Blake, “and there saw part of a George Bernard Shaw festival. No fewer than seven of Shaw’s plays " were produced, including ’Back to Methuselah.’ There, too, I saw a rather dreadful performance of Reinhardt’s idea of Goethe’s ‘Faust.’ It was Reinhardt playing down to the Hollywood taste. The bills on the wall announced ‘Reinhardt’ in great starring letters and ‘Goethe’ and ‘Faust’ in such small ones that one would be excused for thinking that Reinhardt’ was the title of the picture. George Huston made a most excellent Mephistopheles, the best, I think, I have ever seen. That performance was given at the Pilgrimage Theatre, out under the stars, so near to the Hollywood Eowl that on the night I was there one could hear the applause following songs by Kirsten Flagstad.”