DRAMA FESTIVAL.

Wairarapa Age, 22 July 1936, Page 5

DRAMA FESTIVAL.

OPENING IN PARISH HALL LAST NIGHT. INTERESTING & ENTERTAINING PROGRAMME. FOUR PLAYS PRESENTED. An interesting and entertaining programme of plays was presented last night in St. Matthew’s Parish Hall, when the fourth annual festival of the Wairarapa branch of the British Drama League was opened. There was a large attendance of the public. Fotr plays, one by a junior club, were staged. The president, Mr. H. B. Tomlinson opened the festival and welcomed the judge, Miss Elizabeth Blake, of Wellington. The festival will be continued to-night and to-mor-row night. Stating that this was the fourth annual festival of the Wairarapa branch, Mr. Tomlinson referred with pleasure to the increase in the entries, which this year totalled 12 as compared with eight last year. This year, for the first time, three junior teams were competing. During the year two handsome cups had been donated to the branch for competition by Mr. L. Donald, a former member, whose generous action was greatly appreciated. Observing that the stage was rather small and presented difficulties in changing the scenery, Mr. Tomlinson said thanks would be due to Mr. T. Handcock, the stage manager, for his services. It was rather a slur on Masterton that it was not possible to provide a hall suitable for this kind of work, though they were fortunate in having the Parish Hall. He regretted that the Borough Council, when the Opera House had been offered to it, had not taken it over. The council had looked at the proposition more from the financial point of view and had apparently forgotten the immense cultural value of work like that of the drama. He was very pleaded to open the festival and to welcome the judge. The plays presented last night were:— Featherston Junior Drama Club: “The Second-Best Bed” (Cyril Roberts), Anne Shakespeare, Margaret Lawson; Susannah Hall, Joyce Hatton; Judith Quiney, Betty Smith; Jeremy, P. Henderson; Earl’ of Southampton, W. Parton; Lord Bacon, J. Pendergrast. Producer: Mrs E. B. Dean. Masterton Catholic Club: ” Playgoers” (By A. Pinero): The Master, J. P. Hogan; The Mistress, Miss M. Dwyer; The Parlourmaid, Miss A. Manne! 1; The Cook, Miss J. Buckley; The Useful Maid, Miss P. Brennan; The Housemaid, Miss K. Cairns; The Kitchenmaid, Miss P. Hogan; The Old Man, J. Corry. Producer: Mr. J. P. Hogan.

St. Matthew’s Old Girls: “Anticlockwise,” (By Muriel and Sydney Box): Clara Fitzwalter, Miss J. Hosking; Emily Jackson, Miss J. Hornabrook; Elizabeth Aidringham, Miss B. Robinson; Dr. Flora Richmond, Mrs E. J. Rich. Producer: Mrs Rich. Featherston Drama Circle: “The Murder Scream” (By Mikhail Aklom): Mnnel Etterby, Mrs Dean; Derek Lim J?- 11 ’ « Miss Stanford, Miss P. Riddiford; Gilbert Pringle E B. Dean; Tony Lofts, fc. Watson. Pre/ duoer: Mr. A. 8. Kilahy. JUDGE’S COMMENT. Commenting on the plays at the conclnmon of the performances Miss Blake sard the Featherston Junior Club had made j good choice in “The Second Best Bed, whieh was of literary and historical value and was well worth It had its difficulties, but she wks pleased with the way the play as tackled. . Anne had the right touch of acerbity in her voice and gave a real performance. Her dress should have been fuller. Susannah had a good loice and watched others well. Judith gave a good intelligent performance, she made a curtsy several hundred years too late. Jeremy was not too clear to hear, but he stood well, r o en .. <lld at that P eriod - The Earl of Southampton spoke well and Lord Bacon had a good sense of character. hea t latter wanted an older make up. It was a good little performance and the team had been taught t 0 fkink before speaking ..p, eferrin B, t 0 the difficulties of nf g0 > r8 ’ Miss Blake said the key of this play was burlesque, but with no action or practically none. Variation ?“ d „ T ere the on 'y thin g’ to bnng the play to life. The players were very promising, especially the Master. The Mistress was rather too sweet With the servants. The cook '““4® “P ‘°° ynung, but had a good understanding of her part. The The Vt m a ld nee > d6d t 0 b ® s P eeded “PThe kitchenmaid, she observed, wore a w^ e h et i and ., th , e ?‘ d Man did hls lines well but needed to be speeded up. There was lots of promise in this play Anticlockwise,” she said, was a grim and exciting little play, which the team approached from absolutely the right angle. The dresses and make up were right. Clara was not always easy to hear. Emily gave an interesting performance but missed the last touch the crisis - El izabeth used the pause well. Dr. Richmond, who took her part at the last moment had the right angle of approach though she was difficult to hear owing to the speed of her talk. Stating that It was a worth-while play, Miss Blake said it was intelligently tackled. She referred to the importance of variety in tone in all-women plays. “The Murder Scream,” said Miss Blake, was efficiently done. Muriel gave a good interpretation. She used her face well and her timing was right. Derek showed great speed in long speeches in the earlier stages. A greater hint of madness should have been given in this part earlier than it was. Miss Stanford gave a good interpretation though she could have dominated the actress more. Gilbert and Tony did not give quite enough “rough stuff.” This play gave the best worked-up crisis of the evening. TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMME. The plays to be presented to-night are: Playbox Players, "Peter and the Clock” (Kitty Barnes), producer Miss B. Coleman: Masterton Savage Club: “The Man With the Cane” (Geoffrey Dearmer), producer Mr. C. C. Marsack; Carterton Players, “Little Glass Houses” (Phillip Johnson and Howard Agg), producer Mrs Gibb Johnson; Wairarapa High School Club: “Tails Vp” (Cyril Roberta), producer Mr. H. R. Thomson.