OTAKI WIN COMEDY

Chronicle (Levin), 15 June 1946, Page 4

OTAKI WIN COMEDY

Drama Honours to Levin W.I. FESTIVAL CONCLUDES The final plays in the annual drama festival of the Southern Welington Federation of Women's Institutes were presented last evening in the Horowhenua College Hall, and once again the large crowa present showed the great interest taken by the public in this event. The three plays presented were of the same standard as those seen on the first night of the festival, in that they were both entertaining and well played. . The president of the federation (Mrs. H. S. Powell) extended a welcome to the visiting team, which was from Otaki. The Otaki circle, in addition to staging two plays, had over fifty members present, said Mrs. Powell. It had been a wonderful session of plays. The manner in which each circle had done its best made her very proud of the drama circles. Mrs. Powell also introduced the adjudicator, Judith Terry, to those who had not seen her at previous •sessions. The adjudicator thanked the federation for the wonderful way in which it had organised her stay, which she had enjoyed. The improvement in the standard of the : plays had been tremendous since "the days when Professor Shell'ey iwas adjudicating these festivals. .The time had come for amateur drama to lift. It had to be improved all the time, to move "onwards and upwards," she concluded. "Sanctuary" The first play presented was "Sanctuary," a drama, the scent being set in a room in an old house l in Paris, being used as a convent by inuns dispersed during the French ■ Revolution. The time was between i 8" and 9 p.m. on the evening oi ! December 24, 1800. Ilhe piay was I produced by Mrs. J. Harrington aua iMiss R. Milis for the Otaki W.I. The 'cast was: "Mother Marie," Mrs {Hewitson; "Sister Francoise," Miss iPat Fogden; "Sister Anne," Mrs. Gower; "Mlle. de Cice," Miss June Hickson; "Marguerite," Miss Honor Lea; "Citayenne Herne," Mrs. Empson ; "Widow Pensol," Miss R. Mills. In her criticism, the adjudicator warned players not to come too near :to the footlights, in view of the efiect on the light and shadow of faces. The opening was very effec1 tive, and the whole play very nicely staged and acted. The atmosphere was well maintained. Hands, as a means of expression, were not used correctly. The choice of the play iwas at fault; there was little action, j only talking. It was the type of play which was of very little value as far as helping in the development of skill. in amateur drama was coneerned.

"Grannie's A Hundred" The next presentation was by the Levin W.I., a comedy entitled "Grannie's a Hundred," the sqene being laid in the kitchen in Mrs. BlacKshaw's home. The cast was: "Mrs. Blackshaw," Mrs. W. H. Johnson; "Gladys" (her daughter), Miss Dorothy Johnson; "Mary" (her sister), Miss Moya Powell; "Mrs. Corks" (a neighbour), Miss Beth Blenkhorn; "Grannie" (Mrs. Blackshaw's grand-mother) , Mrs. K. Bov^ater; "A lady," Mrs. E. W. Bott. Mrs. Powell was the producer. The comment of the adjudicator was that the iighting was good ana the play chosen delighted. Grannie was a lovely little actress. The teamwork was good, but Mrs. Blackshaw was obviously acting herself, so that points could not be awarded for acting. However, the part was well played. The younger daughter was excellenr in the scene with Grannie. Grannie was excellent. The Lady's walking was too elegant. Mrs. Corks was a fine actress. Too much time was wasted in looking for things that did not matter, such as minor stage properties that were not required. The time would have been better employed in praetice. The adj udicator also emphasised the importance of good Iighting, and what could be achieved by its use.

"Husbands Supplied" The final play of the festival was "Husbands Supplied," a comedy presented by the Otaki W.I. The scene was a business office, the time 9.30 a.m. The cast was: "Mrs. Mary," Mrs. Humber; "Miss Jones,'' Miss Pat Ralph; "Mrs. Muff," Mrs. Berry; "Miss Waff,"v Mrs. Lumiey, "Mrs. Bee," Miss June Hickson; "Miss Crunch," Mrs. Gower; "Old Lady," Mrs. Townrow; "The Man," Mr. Len Moss. The adjudicator's criticism of this play was that it lacked the prelimmary excitement to the "mad fluster" of women about the mah. Otherwise the play was enjoyable, although Miss Crunch should not have bended. The man had a good j style. His wife was gobd, and acted j ner part well. Adjudicator's Awards i The_ winners hf the two classes i v/ere then announced by Mrs. Tejry, ithe winner of the drama being | Levin W.I.'s presentation of "The;Late Miss Cordell," with "Thei Shadow Passes," by the Te Horo | W.I. second. The comedy was won ' by Otaki, with "Bailey's Crowded iHour," while "Mrs. Methuselah" by 'Plimmerton W.I. was second, j Acting honours for the festival j'went to Mrs. J. Perigo, for her, part !as "Miss Simpson" in "The Late | Miss Cordell;" Miss Hazcl Speirs !as "Ivy" in "Hullabaloo" and "Ellen" in "The Shadow Passes;" Miss Pat Fogden as "Jocasa" in "Tudbr rThorns;" Mrs. Delicate as "Grandi'ma" in "Mrs. Methuselah;" and Mr. ; Lumlfey as "Hig" and "Bert" in i "Bailey's Crowded Hour." | The appropriate trophies were Ithen presented, the Drama Cup to ' Mrs. Powell, Of the Levih W.I., while Mrs. J. Harrington and Miss R. Mills received the Comedy Shield on behalf Of the Otaki W.I. * \\\ ' . .