DRAMA FESTIVAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 183, 7 August 1935, Page 8

DRAMA FESTIVAL

LAST NIGHT A SUCCESS A VARIED PROGRAMME WORK OF HIGH STANDARD A large audience attended the opening of the Wanganui Drama League s festival in the Rcpeitory Theatre last night and thoroughly enjoyed a varied programme. Four plays were produced in all, and a very high standard was set. The adjudicator, Miss Helen Gard’ner, of Wellington, at the conclusion, commented on the work of each group, but refrained from announcing the marks gained so as to permit the festival to conclude before the pricings are revealed. Four further plays will be presented to-night and to-mor-row night, and on Friday, the concluding night, there will be three, after which the judge’s placings will be announced.

Last night’s programme was indeed varied. The first work presented was “Au Odd Streak,” by Roland Pert wee, the central character being a girl who “simply didn’t f;t” into the scheme of things as an ordinary girl would be expected to do. “Ghosts on Christmas Eve,’’ by Mabel Brackenbury Latter, contrasted three centuries, the ISth., 19th. and 20th. “Flickering Light,” by Ethel M. Madeley, centred on fortune telling by cards, and the climax was the fulfilment of the warning of the death card, the ace of spades. “Birds of a Feather,” by John Oswald Francis, took the audience to the poaching areas of rural Wales nnd deposited therein a bishoj), who <l:d weird things. Miss Gard’ner, who was introduced by the Rev. W. Lambert, spoke of each work in turn. “The Odd Streak’’ (Presented by the Westmere Women’s Institute Drama Circle') Mrs Weston, Eleanor Remington; Lena Weston, Mimosa Burii.-; Paula Weston, Edith Smith; Cheviot, Bessie Dawes. ’The judge said that this was an easy piny to produce, but did nut afford a great deal c»f sj?}»e in the imaginative sense. It was effectively staged and grouped. “Ghosts on Christmas Eve” (Presented by the Fordell Drama Circle an<l produced by J. Mcßeth). Ladv Georgina Powderham, Mabel Tilley; Mrs Middleby, Olive Barnes; Jackie Jerrington. Doris McGovern; the lion. Robert Doling, Jack Lloyd; Captain Thomas Despard, Sandy Me Beth. “A satisfying nnd very entertaining play,” said the judge, adding that interest was sustained until the end. She would reserve her comment on the individual players until later, in view of the fact that the same play was to bo produced by another group. That would be only fair, she thought. (Applause). “Flickering Light” (Presented by the Kaitoke Drama Circle, and produced by Mrs W. J. Gillies). Mrs Golightly, Mrs Burstoo: Mary Spence. Mati Scott; Mollie Davis, Mrs

Cameron; Roberta Devises, Eame Gillies; Sergeant Owen Compton, Rob Garner. An entertaining play, the judge stated, but a little lacking in variation of character. All the characters were much of the same type, and the play contrasted in that respect with the next one. It was difficult to maintain the fortune-telling theme for so lung. A difficult work to play. “Birds of a Feather.” (Presented by the Wanganui Repertory Society aud produced by Mrs & Rankin) Twin Tinker, Otto Naumann; Dicky Bach Dwl, M. Marks; Jenkins, the keeper, J. Quill; Bishop of Mid-Wales, Warfield Lambert. “An excellent play, well staged, and illustrating what 1 was saying about variation in character,” said the judge. “The off-stage effects were good, and the pace of the play gave me great pleasure.’’ Miss Gard’ner stated that marks allotted would be based on the following presentation, 10; dramatic endeavour or choice of play, 10, making a possible of 100. Last night’s programme at the third annual drama festival of the Wanganui branch of the British Drama League will be followed to-night b.i another splendid offering at the Repertory Theatre. This evening’s programme is an excellent combination of comedy and drama, catering for nil tastes. The first play is a little New Zealand farming comedy, “Granny Makes I p Her Mind,’’ presented by the Kaitoke Drama Circle. The Fordell Drama, Circle will then be seen in an episode bused on the superstition of witchcraft, “The Waxen Alan,” by Mary Reynolds. An ultramodern farce “Sup* pressed Desires,” by the famous Ameri- [ ynn authoress, Susan Glaspell, will provide thirty minutes of genuine comedy. This offering comes from the Players. The last play of the four is the great tragedy that won the internation one* act play theatre competition last year. “Jane Wogan,” from the pen of Florence Howell,” is the second production from the Westmere W.l. Drama Circle, remain two more programmes to presented on Thursday nnd Friday.