EXTENDING THE REPERTORY THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 221, 19 September 1941, Page 4

EXTENDING THE REPERTORY THEATRE

W IIILI i the position in which the Wanganui City Council found itself can be sympathised with, when it was presented with a request that the Repertory Theatre be extended so as to enlarge the stage and auditorium, the subject should not be finally dismissed. When the Public Library was removed to its new premises the old building promised to be added to the number of derelict structures of the city, and its demolition was contemplated. Fortunately Mr. C. P. Brown saved it from the hand of the destroyer and a very useful building has been preserved to the city. The organisation of the Repertory Society made a little theatre necessary, and the City Council, recognising the value of this society as a recreational and cultural influence in the city, has been a commendably good landlord. Not having contemplated expenditure on this building when the estimates were framed, the City Council cannot easily see its way to go to the aid of the society in the way that the Mayor and councillors no doubt would wish to do.

The Repertory Society deserves to be treated generously by the City Council, because the society is as much an addition, in its own way, to the amenities of life in Wanganui, as is Virginia Lake. Were that reserve run by a committee or a scenic preservation society, the analogy with the Repertory Society would be complete, for the latter docs not run for profit. Its workers are purely honorary. The enjoyment and education which the society provides is open to the public for a ridiculously small fee. Wanganui would be very much the poorer were it to lose its Repertory. The educationists are emphasising that the test of civilisation is the use of leisure. A civilisation is justified when its citizens use their leisure hours aright. Conversely, sociologists are to-day concerned at the rapid increase in juvenile crime, which the Attorney-General, Mr. H. G. R. -Mason, attributes to the war atmosphere, and the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, ascribes to the high wages paid to youth. Both of these gentlemen may be right, but if they are their rightness is of a negative character. The educationist is .positively right when he claims that the individual must be given something which is positively right Io do in his spare time. The gift, however. will be ol no value unless there be a responsive movement on tlie part ot the recipient. And since human beings arc gregarious in this, as in other activities, it follows that Hie recreative activitiy which is going to do the greatest good to the community is that which attracts a group of active and willing co-operators. In this the Repertory movement in Wanganui has been happily successful. The tactful hand of Mrs. Lexia Rankin guided the society through its formative years, while Mr. Paul Latham may best be described as “the prop which doth sustain the house.” Around these two outstanding personalities have been grouped men and women of all ages and degrees of education and skill, each doing his part to contribute to the success of the team effort. Year by year the standard of achievement has moved upwards, and now bolh the future development ot production and the demands of the public to enjoy this high-grade but low-cost activity is being hampered by the limitations of space within the theatre- itself.

Here is a successful community venture which is advertising Wanganui far and wide through the Dominion, which is providing that outlet for youthful activities so essential in order to maintain a healthy and sane society. It merits being given support. Despite the difficulties which do admittedly stand in the way, the Mayor and city’ councillors would not be unwise nor less the guardians of the municipal purse if they again addressed themselves to the task of seeing in how far the wishes of the Repertory Society could be met. The effort would be worth while and would be appreciated by a very wide public.