BRITISH DRAMA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21159, 8 July 1940, Page 6

BRITISH DRAMA

CONCLUSION OF FESTIVAL LOCALLY-WRITTEN PLAYS WIN GREAT SUCCESS OF FIXTURE The Centennial one-act play competition, under the direction of the Waikato Area of the British Drama League, was brought to a successful conclusion on Saturday night. Three more plays were staged, and were much enjoyed by an audience that crowded the Winter Show Hall. “A Grotesque For November,” by Dan Wickenden, was staged by the Hamilton Performers’ Club, with Mr David Reid as producer and the following cast:—An Old Woman, Mrs E. Marsh; a Policeman, Mr Kenneth Eade; Joe, Mr Stanley Carroll; an Old Man, Mr Malcolm Burdis; Sam. Mr John Dowell: Tommy, Mr David Reid. The judge said he could not decide whether this play was meant to be realistic or symbolical; if the former, it contained some impossible situations. However, it showed tremendous emotional power, and fine work had been done by the players. “Beauty Spot,” by Ivor Brown, was produced by Mr H. S. James, for the Hamilton Operatic Society, with the following players:—John Walker, Albert Cope; Mary Hall, Alma Burtcn; Mrs Street, Shirley Burton; Mrs Townrow, Nancy Cope; Henry Parker, Jock Churton; Jane Wheeler, Patty Blake; Alicia Pobjov, M.P., Mary McKenzie. The judge said this was an amusing satirical comedy, with hits at both the Government and the people, and the players had got most of the laughs. The final presentation of the evening was “Twentieth Century Lullaby,” by the Hamilton Playbox, with Mrs Joy Sullivan as producer and the characters taken as follows: Mary Smith, Marie Butler; Schoolmaster, Graham Absolum; Clergyman, G. Bowden; Announcer, Stan Carrol; Businessman, Ken Sandford; Bride, Joy Crozier; Politician, Jock Churton; Madonna, Zelda Fahey. The judge said that this was an experimental drama, half realistic and half symbolical. It was a difficult play to produce, and the performers had made a very brave attempt, doing good work even if they had failed to realise its possibilities. Judge Announces Awards The judge announced his awards as follows: “The Sign,” St. George's Players 1 “Flight From Cumnor,” Kenilworth Players 2 “A Grotesque for November,” Hamilton Performers’ Club 3 The players in “The Sign” were Mrs V. Linder, Mrs Stephenson, and Misses Moyna Grills, Gladys Branton and Lynette Holloway, while those in “The Flight From Cumnor” were Misses Rosalie Seddon and Shirley Burton, Messrs Edward Purdy, Richard Pedrotti, Albert Cope, Marcus James and Jock Churton. It is interesting to note that the first and second plays were written by Hamilton residents, the first by Mr Arthur Cook and the second by Miss Rosalie Seddon. As the outstanding players of the festival the judge mentioned Miss V. Edwards as Mistress Barebegod in “Women at War,” Miss Moyna Grylls as Ruth in “The Sign,” and Miss Rosalie Seddon as Amy Robsart in “The Flight From Cumnor.” Mr Kenneth Sandford, as the Lieutenant in “Such Sweet Sorrow” and all the men in “The Flight From Cumnor” were very good. In the junior contest, Mr Paine awarded first place to “Alice in Wonderland,” by the Waikato Diocesan School Drama League, and second place to “Passion, Poison and Petrification,” also by pupils of the Diocesan School,- both under the direction of Miss Zellie D. Robins. The judge said he had derived great pleasure from the festival, and he hoped they would go on to even greater things. Dean T. P. Weatherhog presented certificates to producers, and thanked all who had helped to make the festival a success, paying a special tribute to the secretary, Mrs J. Prenton.