BRITISH DRAMA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21157, 5 July 1940, Page 2

BRITISH DRAMA

FESTIVAL IN HAMILTON ONE-ACT PLAY COMPETITION INTERESTING & ENTERTAINING The Waikato section of the oneact play competition arranged by the New Zealand Centennial Committee was commenced in the Winter Show Hall, Hamilton, last night, under the direction of the local branch of the British Drama League. It was an auspicious opening tor the festival, for there was a large audience and the plays presented were interesting and entertaining. A late start in commencing proceedings will probably be avoided on subsequent evenings. Dean T. P. Weatherhog, president of the league, expressed pleasure at the satisfactory attendance, which was very encouraging in view of the troublous times. The league, after much thought, had decided to “carry on,” and he was sure the festival would be a great success. He introduced the adjudicator, Mr C. Haswell Paine. Mr Paine said the league was to be congratulated on continuing its activities, for the cultivation of the arts was never more important than at this time of international stress. He was confident that the art of the theatre, which was very dear to English-speaking peoples, would endure. He hoped that the league would always aim at improving the quality of the plays staged, until it aspired to present some of the masterpieces. A play, to be great, should have some great quality of universality, so that its theme was applicable in any age. The Plays Presented The Hamilton Operatic Society staged “Such Sweet Sorrow,” a tense little play that was particularly topical at present, for it dealt with the experiences of a number of refugees who were put through the “third degree” by an officer of a dictatorship. Mrs Malcolm Thomas was the producer, and the cast was as follows:—Joseph Reisner, Mr H. J. Ferguson; Theresa Sorenson, Mrs G. Parkhouse; Baroness Kellner, Miss Joy Crozier; Peter Sonn, Mr David Reid; Frieda Veit, Miss Wilma Thomas; Anna Claver, Miss Sandra Tassel 1; the Lieutenant, Mr Kenneth Sandford; the Corporal, Mr J. Garrett. “Passion, Poison and Petrification,” a rollicking burlesque on melodrama by Bernard Shaw, was presented by the Waikato Diocesan School Drama League, with Miss Z. D. Robins as producer ana the following players: The Lady Magnesia Fitzollemache, Justine Lundon; Fitzollemache, Barbara Graham; Adolphus Bastable, Judith de la Mare; Phyllis, the Maid, Moyna Grylls; the Landlady, Mary McKinnon; the Policeman, Joan Wooller; the Doctor, Margaret Matthews. “The Sign,” writtenMr Arthur Cook, of Hamilton, was a beautiful little Biblical play dealing with the love and marriage of Ruth. Mr Cook produced the play, and the cast was: Ruth, Miss Moyna Grylls; Naomi, Mrs V. Linder; Rebecca, Mrs Stephenson; Esther, Miss Gladys Branton; Rhoda, Miss Lynette Holloway. The judge’s comments on the productions were extremely interesting, and his hints to the performers very helpful. Regarding “Such Sweet Sorrow,” he said that the title had little connection with the theme; a title, he thought, should be a cryptic precis of the play and become the objective of the placers. The spirit of the play was obtained very well, and the work of the performers generally was very good, and in some cases excellent. “Passion, Poison and Petrification,” though it should have gone at a faster tempo, for farce wanted to be taken at a swifter pace, had given him great pleasure, and he congratulated the players. Mr Paine was very enthusiastic regarding the locally-written play, “The Sign.” He said it was a very moving performance, with beauty of colour, speech and movement, and artistic in every way. There were fine contrasts (an important matter in all plays), and the tempo was exactly right. It was a colourful, rhythmic piece of drama—a fine piece of play-writing. Tonight’s Programme The festival will be continued tonight, when the following plays will be staged:—Diocesan School Juniors, “Alice in Wonderland”; Gordonton W. 1., “Women at War”; Otorohanga W. 1., “Far, Far Away”; Kenilworth Players. “Flight From Cumnor.” Splendid work in organising the festival was done by the president of the league, Dean T. P. Weatherhog; the secretary, Mrs J. Prenton; the treasurer, Mr F. Jackson; and the committee, Mrs F. Bullock, Mrs H. D. Curling, Miss M. MacKenzie, Miss M. Riley and Mr Frank Brewer. The very effective lighting was carried out by Rev. Paul Sergei, who also acted as stage manager. Mr Frank Brewer was property manager, and Mr F. Jackson attended to the front of the house.