Two Top Awards Go To Levin And Titahi Bay

Chronicle (Levin), 18 July 1949, Page 4

Two Top Awards Go To Levin And Titahi Bay

Described.by the a'djudicator, Mr. R. S. Allwright, as a most grjpping play well done, Titahi Bay ins'-i-tute's "Members of the Jury" won1 the silver cup for drama at the j conclusion of the Southern Welington Federation of Women's ln-| stitutes fourieenth annual festival' on Saturday night. The Levin institute secured top pl'ace for comedy with "Mrs. Methuselah," which he described as the best perform-j a,nce of that play which he had yet seen, "If there was such a thing as Oscars for a festival such as this, X. would have no hesitation in awardipg ■ them to 'Margaret A^ers' (Lola Keneh) . in Titahi Bay's 'Members of the Jury,' and ,o 'Grandma' (Bessie Anderson)' in the Levin's cornedy, 'Mrs. Methuselah'," commented Mr. Allwright. The following were the placings and points awarded the successful institutes:—

Drama: Titahi Bay W.I..'s "Members of the Jury," 85 points, 1; Plimmerton W.I.'s "Red Sky At Night," 74 points, 2; Otaki W.I.'s "Let It GO At That," 70 points, 3. Comedy: Levin W.I.'s "Mrs. Methuselah," 85 points, 1,- Plimmerton Wj.'s "To'day Of All Days," 72 points, 2; Paramata W.I.'s "World Without Men," 65 points, 3. He had had a yery pleasant three nights and, with, the exception of one, he had never' s'een tho players before and had had no idea of their capabilities, said the , adjudicator when.summing up. His first action in every case was to look at the stages so that he could have a full realisation of any difflculties confronting the actors. He considered that the standard of the drama had been with one exception (Levin W-I.) , higher than the comedy. He could not understand why so many chose comedy plays, as they were much harder to play than drama, nor was it usually marked as high, but he had given the winning play even marks for its excellehce„ In a word of praise for Piimmerton's "Red Sky At Night," Mr. Allwright §aid that he was most impressed with the setting. It was a play which required atmosphere. He had watched for it and got it. The play had gone very well. Titahi Bay's "Members of the Jury" also called for atmosphere and 'he had not been disappointed, The'a'cting had been even and sustained. He had. had no hesitation -in awarding the first prize for comedy to the Levin W.I.'s "Mrs. Methuselah." Mr, Allwright then presented the silver cup for drama to Mrs. Kench, producer for Titahi Bay, and the shield for comedy to' Mrs. Powel!, of Levin institute. Mrs. Powell, who is also president of the federation, then added a word of congratulations to the team from Titahi Bay,. stating that this had been its first performance and that it was one of the youngest institutes in the federation. The final. judging, which was held in the College Hall, Levin, before a capacity house, was the climax of the three-day trials. The first trial was on Monday night at Tawa Flat, when plays were presented by the Plimmerton, Paremata and Tawa Flat W.I.'s. Thursday night saw the second trial, with Titahi Bay and Plimmerton W.I.'s competing. Saturday brought the final three plays, staged by the Levin and Otaki W.I.'s. The following were. the three plays, the casts and the adjudicator's remarks in Saturday night 's programme:— "Let It Go At That." Otaki WX, drama, Mrs. Len Moss (producer) .— Jarman, Mrs. Hewitson; Mrs, Massarene (Theo), Mrs. Hunter; Duchess of Mex, Mrs. Gower; Alicia Romney, Miss J. Cooper; Elizabeth Claud, Miss P. Ralph; Mrs. Hexway, Mrs. Housiaux; Mrs. Beverley-Jones, Mrs. Empson. Adjudicator's remarks: He felt on reading the play that it should be marked with a good deal of tenseness, which had been lacking' from the team. He congratulated the producer on an excellent setting and lighting effects. it was not an easy play and had been handled most judiciously. "Jarman" (Mrs. Hewitson) had been well cast. She had both looked and acted efficiently and he had heard all that she had to say. She had lived the part "Mrs. _ Massarene" (Mrs. Hunter) had violated the first essential in play acting — audibility. She could not always be heard, as she dropped her voice too much and had required too much prompting. "The Duchess" (Mrs. Gower) had been in character and sustained it throughout. Her last scene had been well done and her exit very good. "Mrs. Beverley-Jones" (Mrs. Empson) had looked the part of a bishop's wife and hers was a nice piece of acting. The others had been mostly supporting, but a stronger (Mrs, Massarene) and more tense atmosphere had been needed. . The grouping had been good but the producer should watch against one bad point — that of placing an actor where she woul'd be required to speak up stage. He would also have liked to have. seen more variation in. pace, Jt had not gonq quite fast enough. He had looked for mysterious tension and had not got it, but he added that the play was a most difficult one. "Mrs. Methuselah." Levin W.I., comedy, Mrs. M. X Powell (producer). — Grandma, Bessie Anderson; Amy, EUa Bowater; Sukie (christened Susannah), Gladys Hudson; Goosie (christened Augusta), Elien Perigo; Miss Wiston, Kathleen Black; The Mayoress, Margaret Kirkcaldie; Mrs, Ladslove, Elsie Pickering.

Adjudicator's remarks: This was a play which • was bristfing ; with humour'and it was the best performance he had* yet seen of it. .This not only applied to the dialogue, The whoie play had been carried through at comedy pace, which had been' lacking in all the previous enactions of it that he had - seen. "Grandma" (Bessie Anderson) had, of course, been the jcentral figure and without her it would have been a flop. He could [ not say too much about her acting. I She had been in character . right [ through, made her points and waited for her laughs. The latter was'a strong point in her favour, as in [most. comedy productions this was i overlooked. Waiting; for laughs*jhad a' tendency .to'slow up comedies, but this had not been -so in ^ this partieular play. Her 'audibility had been good and s'he had heen called upon to portray two completely different; moods, 'which she had done most capably. The setting had beeu in excellent taste and just as he had pictured it.

"Amy" (Ella Bowater) had not a large part, but it had not been an easy one. She had done it we:l and had teamed well' with the othefs. ' "Goosie," taken by Mrs. Perigo, was to be congratulated. He understood that the lady who took that part had done so at three days' notice owing to the absence of the original player, and must have put a iot of work into it. She * had spoken up well. "Sukie" (Gladys Hudson) had also been in character. Her staging of a cold in the head had been wefi done. This had not been easy, as it could easily have been overdone and audibility iost. "Miss % WiSton," the reporter (Kathleen Black) had. also not had a great deal to do, bm she had done it well. The part had been acted evenly and when she had produce d. a notebook she reafiy looked as if she was writing shorthand. The portrayal had been nicely done. The part "Mrs. Ladslove" (Elsie Pickering) had been played too much on an,even keel, and he thought there cou'd have* been a greater touch of past' coquette shown. She had been still quite good, only he had seen her just a little differently. "Grandma" (Bessie Anderson) had been excellent. This lady certain y knew how to play comedy and he congratulated her. The mayoress (Margaret Kirkcaldie) had had a thankless part, but she was well portrayed and this was a nice piece of character acting. The part could easily have been overpiayed, but this had not oecurred. He had * seen this play four times and even that night had found himself laughing on occasions. He thought that it was the best performance of it that he had seen. ■ "The Inconstant Moon." Otaki W.I., comedy, Mrs. Len Moss (producer) ,—Julia Danby; /Mrs. Hunter; Pottie Danby, Mrs. Housiaux; Wilfred Duxbury, Mr. Moss; Mr. Burt, Mr. Townrow; Luella Burt, Miss B. Proctor; Fiorrie, Mrs; Gower. Adjudicator's remarks: As a play this was not a very wonderful Choice, nor had it a very original theme. "Julie" (Mrs. Hunter) was required to carry most of the play, the others being mainly supporting. "Julie" had looked weil, but should have been more flamboyant in her part of an ex-actress. He thought that perhaps she had been miscast. She definitely had ability and had shown flashes of its throughout, but she had . not been sure of her words. Her daughter, "Pottie" (Mrs. Housiaux) ^ had been in character. "Fiorrie" (Mrs. Gower) had turned on a nice type of acting and had been good. "Wilfred Duxbury" (Mr. Moss) looked the type and was good, but was at times standing still and doing nothing for long periods. "Mr. Burt" (Mr. Townrow) portrayed the part of a . selfmade man well and he would like to congratulate him. His final exit had been good and quite a brighit spot. "Lucella Burt" (Miss Proctor) had been nicely typed She looked the part and had done it well. She had also walked and dressed nicely and had, although on stage for only a short time, Suden much of the thunder from those in the major partSlL'He had been sorry that the final scene had 'been lost by the lights going out too- quickly. The play had not gone quite fast enough. He also thought that there had been too much standing around and inactivity by the actors. Nothing was more tiring to watch. The Winning Drama. The cast in Titahi Bay's winning drama, "Members of the Jury " was: — Margaret Akers (Lola Kench), Mary (Mary Brewer) ,.Hon. Mrs. Meadows (Jean Wright), Miss Prince (Adele Meyer) , Paula Stebbmgs (Betty Simmonds) , Grace Armitage (Margaret Thomnsnni