DRAMA FESTIVAL

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20260, 31 July 1937, Page 8

DRAMA FESTIVAL

A GREAT SUCCESS. HAMILTON PLAYBOX HEADS LIBT. JUNIOR TO DIOCESAN SCHOOL. The second annual festival of the Waikato Area of the British Drama League concluded last night, when the Winter Show' Hall was crowded. Three more plays were presented, making 17 for the week, and these three filled the first three places in the awards of the adjudicator, Mr. E. Campbell Laurie, of Auckland. Mr. Laurie congratulated all the teams on the high standard of their offerings. He announced his awards as follows:

Senior Section. HAMILTON PLAYBOX, “ The Maid of Domremy,” by Joe Corrle. Producer: Mr. E. K. Brown. Cast: Jeanne, Roma Garratt; Pierre. ■Colin Roskruge; Romee, Charlotte Edmunds; Jacques, Malcolm Thomas; Cure, Harry Baker; Marie, Marie Cook; Simon, Frank Greer 1 PIG PIO DRAMA SOCIETY. Act 2 of “ Major Barbara,” by Bernard Shaw. Producer, Mr. C. H. Paine. Cast: Rummy, Winifred McAlley; Snobby, William Early; Jenny, Ella Aston: Peter, Go’don Dinnison; Bill, Haswell Paine; Adolphus. Frederick Dawson; Barbara, Kathleen Rowden: Andrew, William Waldegrave .. 2 PIO PIO DRAMA SOCIETY, “ Symphony in Illusion.” by J. W. Bell. Producer, Mr. C. H. Paine. Cast: A Woman. Molly O’Brien; A Widow, Ellen Murray; A Girl, Elizabeth Waldgrave; A Wanton, Vera Howes; An Old Woman. Lesbia Paine: Mary, Geraldine Allison; A Mail Girl, Margaret TaJt 3

The Judge said he had had a hard Job in separating tho first two plays; there was only half a point between them. “ The Maid of Domremy ” was a wonderful effort. He had seen the play presented In Auckland two years ago, when it was not nearly as good a production as the one in Hamilton. He congratulated the producer and the players on the excellent thought put into it and their fine team work. Miss Garratt’s performance had been one of the best in the festival, and Mr. Roskruge’s Pierre was also outstanding. The rest of the players had also given sincere characterisations. The Judge also spoke very highly of the Pio Pio Society’s performance. I-t was a well-cast and well-acted play. A special tribute was paid to the very fine characterisation by Mrs Margaret Tait as the mad girl. Junior Section. Mr. Laurie said he had been amazed at the fine performances given by the children. Four teams had entered, and all the work had been of a very fine standard, there being very little between them. He gave his awards as follows: — WAIKATO DIOCESAN SCHOOL. “X—O,” by John Drinkwater. Producer: Miss Z. Robins. Play-' ers; Qona Turner, Gushla Milroy, Sheila Smith. Joan Morton, Betty Larner, Joan Wallis 1 HAMILTON PLAYERS, “ Michael,” by Miles Malleson. Producer: Miss Phyllis Torpy. Players: Reta Anderson, Beverley Bateman, Valerie Nicholas, Betty Welch, Moyna Grylls, Ronald Wilson, Vivienne ■Clephane 2

PETER PAN PLAYERS, “ The Language of Love.” by Edward Percy. Producer: Mrs. Zelda Fahey. Players: Enid Taggard, Hazel Robinson, Margaret Scrimshaw', Rosalie Seddon 3 11 It Is tho best Junior team I have ever seen,” said Mr. Laurie In referring to the winners. “They did a wonderful bit of work, and I congratulate them and their producer. “ The second team also gave a very fine performance, and would have won in any other festival.” The President’s Congratulations. The president, Dean Weatherhog, thanked all who had helped in the success of the festival, and paid a special tribute to the work of the secretary, Mrs. J. Prenton. to whom they owed much. He said the work of the players had been excellent, a gratifying feature being the choice of plays and the improvement, in standard. He thanked the press for its assistance. The festival had been a gratifying sucMrs. Ward Chapman, a member of the committee, handed a lovely bouquet to Mrs. Prenton, amid the applause of the audience. The judge, after giving some advice to performers, said he had been impressed with the sincere work and the good type of play presented. He was glad to see the teams tackling something ambitious. The lighting (carried out by Rev. Paul Sergei) had been very effective, and had played an important, part in the success of the productions. “ The festival has been a wonderful success,” said Mr. Laurie—a remark that was loudly applauded by the audience. ___________