AMATEUR ACTIVITIES.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17982, 29 March 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

AMATEUR ACTIVITIES.

HAMILTON LITTLE THEATRE. APPEAL FOR MEMBERS. It is to be hoped that the appeal for members for the Hamilton Little’Theatre Society will meet with success, for such a society would be a decided asset to the town, especially now that the commercial production of plays in New Zealand has been reduced to a minimum.

As an illustration of what a Little Theatre means the Auckland Society may be instanced. That society is a tremendous success, its productions reaching a very high standard, while the membership is so large that it is often impossible for non-members to obtain admittance to the productions. A Little Theatre Society, besides keeping interest in the drama alive,

develops talent. It is to be hoped that Hamilton will not allow this society to languish, as has been the case with other (especially musical) organisations.

The Dandy Dozen. The Dandy Dozen, Hamilton’s popular entertainers, have changed their mind! They contemplated producing the comedy “Lord Richard in the Pantry, but (owing, I believe, to the difficulty of casting Richard) they have now decided to stage “The Whole Town’s Talking.” It seems rather a pity that the Dandy Dozen should drop the style of entertainment —song, dance, etc.—in which they won such success; but everyone will wish them well in their new venture, Auckland Little Theatre Flourishing. At the annual meeting of the Auckland Little Theatre Society the president stated that the affairs of the society continued to be in a very satisfactory condition. The accumulated fund at the beginning of the year was, £379. Four productions held during the year nad given a net return of £lßs'. The net balance at the close of the year was £523, which was represented by cash in the bank. The president added that although most other, forms of theatrical enterprise seemed ,to have declined during the year, the society continued to flourish and its revenue was increasing. The election of officers resulted: — Patron, Sir George Fowlds; vice-pre-sidents, Professor R. M. Algie, Canon Archdall, Mr F. C. Mappin, Mr A. M. Ferguson, M'r Henry Hayward,' and Dr. G. E. Maguire; committee, Messrs F. L. Armitage, W. J. Crowther, D. L. Nathan, J. B. Brittain, J. Lowe, A. F. Goodwin, E. S. Kohn, L. P. Leary, J. Stewart! F. E, McCallum, A. E. Mulgan and R. A. Lippincott.

Other Productions. The Hamilton Operatic Society is fortunate in never having had to pay a fee to its producer. The New Plymouth Society, according to a statement at the annual meeting, paid £BB last season for the producer (Mr Thco. Trezise), of “Aliss Hook ol' Holland.” “Outward Bound,” Sutton Vane’s play, which is in rehearsal by the Hamilton Little Theatre Society, was broadcast by members of the Auckland Little Theatre Society on Mondaj night. A loss of £127 . was made by the New Plymouth Operatic Society on its production of “Aliss Ilook of Holland” last season Vo the jjj ;,Y ,w worse off at the end of the year than at the beginning. However, the society is eager Lo carry on this season, and will probably produce a revue. The Wellington Players will open their 1030 season on April 3 with another triple bill, under the direction of Elizabeth Blake. The plays which will be performed are not only widely different from each other, but are quite a departure from anything previously presented by the Players. The plays are: “The Song of the Seal,” by the late Graham Price, which is based on a Hebridean legend; “The Arbuthnot Diamond Robbery,” a particularly well-reasoned detective play by Miss Rosina Filippi; and a dramatised version of Ilans Andersen’s famous fairy tale “The Tinder Box.” The season includes performances at Khandallah, Havelock North and Nelson. The Auckland Little Theatre Society will commence its activities with “The Alan They Buried” next week, and probably the next production will be a Galsworthy play, either “Eldest Sou” or “Justice.” Owing to the success of “OutwaTd Bound” (which, by the way, the Hamilton Society has in rehearsal) the society is considering staging another Sutton Vane play, “Overture,” while efforts will also be made to present Eugene O’Neill's “Anna Christie.”

“ The Alan They Buried ” has 22 speaking parts and eight, scenes, so it is an ambitious undertaking.