DRAMA FESTIVAL AT OTAKI

Chronicle (Levin), 15 June 1946, Page 2

DRAMA FESTIVAL AT OTAKI

W.I. ENTEIITAINMENT The annual drama festival of"the Women's Institutes was held iii the . Civic Theatre on Wednesday even- • ing of this week, before a large and appreciative audience. The president of the South Wellington Federation, Mrs. H; S. Powell, welcomed ■ the competing. teams and introduced the adjudicator, Mrs. Judith Terry, of Auckland; to whom she presented a beautiful bunch of the famous Otaki violets. Mrs. Terry addressed a few' words to the audience and the teams on the great part drama plays in tne cultural life of any country, and commended the Women's Institute movement for its . f ostering of the spoken word in stage presentations. The plays submitted were as follows : — "Bailey's Crowcled Hour" With its location the foyer of a picture theatre half-an-hour before ciosing time, and a professors laboratory conjured up by Bailey's imaginamon oi what nappened to him when he went for a "quickone" at the hotel opposite the theatre, this comedy brought forth roars of laughter from the audience. With Mrs. Harrington and Miss R. Mills as joint pr^cers, tne ! cast was as follows: "Bailey,'-' Mr,. Townrow ; "Mr. Hyams" (Ug), Mr. James; "Miss Withers," Mrs. burnley; "Miriam Goldsmith" fTesty), Miss Valerie Synnott; "George," lan Taylor ; "Onda," Mrs. Hewitson; "Helen," Miss Pat Ralph; "Higv (Bert ) , Mr. Lumley. The cnmedy was entered by the Otaki W.I. Mrs. Terry commented that the make-up was excellent, the girls looked charming, the comedy 'was well done, and the acting was of a high standard. She jokmgly complimented the "Men's Divtsion" oi the Institute who took the prinp.inlp narts.

"The Shadow Pacscs" Entered by the Te Hor-j xnstitute, uhe cast of this drama vas as foilows: "Christina," Miss Betty Hooper; "Edith," Miss Lilian Fuller; "Ellen," Miss Hazfl Spiers; 'Mercia," Miss Miria.n Mills; "Gwen," Miss Lilian Verrant; 'Carol," Miss Margaret Erook. Thc producer was Mrs. Grant. Mrs. Terry considered 'that a good choice of play had been made and it was well presented. There was good team work and it was exceedingly well done. • "Tudor Thorns". In this second entry by the Otaki Institute, which was also producec by Mrs. J. Harringtop and Miss R. Mills, the locale is the reception room in the home of Princess Mary, in the year 1550. The cast was as follows; "Princess Mary," Mis.Valerie Synnott; "Jane Dormer,'Miss June Hickson; "Jocasa," Miss Pat Fogden ; "The Marchioness of DoTset," Mrs. Empson, "Lad-y Jane Grey," Miss Rose Egdell; "Princess Elizabeth," Miss Honor Lea' "Duchess of Somerset," Miss R. Mills; "Ellen," Mrs. Berry. Mrs. Terry said that this perioc drama was greatly enjoyed-, the old style dresses and make-up being particularly attractive, and thc acting very good. The adjudicator then dealbriefly with a few of the pitfall? awaiting the amateur actor and actress, following which an excel lent arid instructive evening con - cluded with the singing of tlv National Anthem.