ONE-ACT PLAYS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 261, 3 August 1942, Page 3

ONE-ACT PLAYS

British Drama League Festival RESULTS OF JUDGING

The eleventh annual community drama festival held under the auspices of the British Drama League (Wellington area) came to a close on Saturday yeuing before a crowded audience at tne Concert Chamber. Four one-act plays were presented, and of these two gained the highest marks from the adiudicatoi, Miss Helen Gard'ner. The plays were as follows: — Hollinside Players m "Mirror to Elizabeth,” by T. B. Morris. Producer A E. Farrant. Players: Evelyn othy Jesson, Rosemary Page, IhylUs Jes son, Gwen Rudge, Florence Williams, Elizabeth Farrant and Cazna U°wtu. This very fine little Elizabethan pluy was, according to the adjudicator, marked by a good diversity of character, and, for the most part was played with easy ■ charm. Here and there i<e gloup n» was effective, but on - occasions tbej masked one another too much. Lbe chiet character was, depicted by a play er handicapped by a cold, bhe was too in her actions, and made too “any little hand gestures. The dance, she thoujit, might have been made gayer, and it was evident that something went wrong witn the curtain scene at the end. ■ Wellington East Old Girls Dramatic Society in "Novelette.” by’ Phillip Johnson. Produced by Nola Millar. 1 layers : Rae Carter. Joyce Roberts, Mollie Chisholm, Joyce Megget, Joan black. "An excellent performance of a good little thriller,” was the verdict of Miss Gard’ner. She said that “Novelette was played naturally, and was marked by sound and unforced work throughout. The tense atmosphere was well sustained all through. The hypocritical old aunt was well played, her change of manner when she expressed herself being _ wen marked. There was repose and quiet in the manner of the acting, yet every word was heard. Evidently this play was produced by someone who knew something of the technique of stage production (a compliment to Miss Nola Millar). Strathmore Play Readers in The Goldfish,” bv Isobel Andrews. 1 rodueer, D. G Edwards. Players: Nancy I'letcher, R. H. Fraser, Dorothy Francis, Nan Lambert, Ruby Shaul.v, J. L. G eing, Freda Williams, Lily Scott, and A. C. Francis. Miss Gard’ner characterized this offering, written by a New Zealander, as a jolly good .little p ay. marked by a good deal of witty dialogue with a Noel Coward touch. The players were nice and easy, acting without strain, was well cast, and the players were triie t 0 type— a verv smooth and enjoyable in “Postal Order” by Roland Pertwee. Produced by Harry Woolcott. Players—A almai Stone. Doris Hussey. Gladys Morgan Esme Crow, and Harry Woolcott. This laughable comedy was well done. The types were well cast, and their acting was marked by some neat ‘'business.” At the conclusion •.of the perlormances Miss Gard’ner congratulated the management and the players, announced the result. which was as follows: btrs.. “Novelette.” a “R” certificate with 83 marks (out of a possible 100) ; s . e^ on J’ “The Goldfish.” “B” certificate, with 82 marks ; third. “World Without Men, B certificate with 78 marks. The competitors were also placed, and certincates were handed out to the winners by Mrs. Mason, wife of the Minister of Education, who was also present. Matinee Performance.

During the afternoon little plays and sketches were presented by the HataitaiKilbirnie Junior Players, who offered “Archibald”: the Karorl Junior Players in sketches from Maeterlinck s “The Blue Bird”: the Kelburn Junior Players m "The Silver Candlesticks”; and the Johnsonville Junior Players in “Dresden China.” Nigel Hoffmann contributed a recitation, and a puppet show was presented under the direction of Mrs. Hayman. Play-Writing Competition. Mr. A. S. Farquhar, president of the Wellington area, who judged-the playwriting competition, remarked on the difficulties which had been encountered this year in arranging the festival, and the trials of those concerned in arranging plays, because of so many being called upon to.perform duties which took them away from the ordinary round. He paid a tribute to the work of the secretary, ■Mr. F. V. Sanderson, the stage manager, Mr. Jesson, and all others who had assisted. There were 22 entries for the play-writing competition, and he was glad to say that these plays registered a distinct improvement on many of the efforts in the past, denoting that progress was being made. He gave the first prize to n New Zealand play, with an all-Maori cast, called “In the Month of .Scarcity,” by Janet McLeod, of Nelson. It was a well-written, purposeful play, with a good deal of poetic charm and knowledge of the Maoris and their traditions. It included very beautiful chant, nnd altogether was a pleasing play. The second prize went io Myra Sperling. Auckland, for her play. “Just Pioneers,” and, equal second, to Mrs. Leo Myers for her Scots play, “Caller Herrin.”