DRAMATIC FESTIVAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 222, 19 September 1934, Page 6

DRAMATIC FESTIVAL

REPERTORY SOCIETY’S SUCCESS WESTMERE INSTITUTE SECOND. The final night of the festival of the Wanganui brauch of the British Drama League produced some excellent acting and the adjudicator, Mr. Leo Du Chateau, was generous in his praise of the contesting teams. The placingi were:— Repertory Society, with “Legend,” a fine cohesive piece of work, 1. Westmere Women’s Institute, with “Saturday Night,” and the League of Nations Drama Circle, “Pawns,” (equal) 2. Others were placed as follows: “There is no Return,” 3; “Where God Is, Love Is,” 4; “Where the Whirlwind Blows,” 5; “The Family Group,” 6. The League of Nations Drama Circle presented “Pawns,” by Percival Wilde. Grigor, A Russian peasant, Mr. E. A. Watkiu; Stepan and Ilia, sons of Grigor, S. I. Nolan and A. Lewis; Michael, neighbour to Grigor, J. R. Dixon; Pekr, employed by Michael, L. Latham; the Sergeant, S. J. Harris. Scene: Near Sandomierz and Zawichost, ou the Russo-Austrian border. Producer, Mr. E. A. Watkin). Judge’s Comment: An excellent production, the part of the sergeant could, however, have been played more forcibly. This character was taken by one who had not performed the part before, and as such was commendable, Westmere Women’s Institute B team presented “When the Whirlwind Blows,” by Essex Dane. Madam Elizabeth Audroya, Doreen Barnes; Josefa, Isa Feist; Anna, Edith Smith. Scene: Interior blacksmith’s cottage in Slovakia. Producer, Warfield Lambert. Judge’s Comment: A good play and a credit to the choosers, but they would have been wiser to have selected a play that would have given the players greater opportunity for exercising their natural advantages of dialect. Tho caste hardly fitted tho play. Wanganui Repertory Society presented “Legend.” Mrs. Walters, Mrs. H. Gilberd; Mrs. Reid, Mrs. P. Doull; Rev. Tallowes, Mr. P. Saunders; The Stranger, Mr. E. Paqualin. Scene: Mrs. Reid’s Cottage in a fishing village. Produced by Mr. W. Paqualin. Judge’s Comment" A very nice performance, in which attention was given to detail. The character of the. Rev. Tallowes could have been rendered with more naturalness and ease. I liked the play and enjoyed it very much. T have no hesitation in giving this team first place, and according second place to the team which gave us “Saturday Night” on the opening evening After the judge had made his awards he also gave some general observations concerning plays and play production. Certificates for those societies which competed during the previous festival wore then presented by the president of the society, Mr. H. C. Jenkins.