PLAN'S MADE FOR PLAY-READING BY MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY CLUB

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 69, 8 April 1937, Page 11

PLAN'S MADE FOR PLAY--READING BY MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY CLUB

The spacious new rooms of the Hastings Women 's Community Club will be an added attraction for the club members, who feel that no time should now be wasted' before commencing the season's activities. An opportunity was taken yesterday afternoon by the members of the playreading circle to meet and discuss their plans for the'coming year. The rooms were gaily decorated with large Bowls of flame dahlias and cannas which looked most dttractive against the fresh cream walls. Mrs F. Perrin, the circle leader, was in the chair and the circle secretary, Mrs E. V. Simpson, was also present. The afternoon opened with a word-.. building competition which was won by Mrs E. Eiley' with Mrs Gordon Eoach second. Mrs Perrin entertained the members with a description of the ups.and downs of the play-reading circle since its inception. She told how the club members first decided. to read a play and chose "The Will" by j. M. Barrie, this being probably the first time in Hawke's Bay that a play had been read aloud by a group of women. The speaker said that she felt very sceptical at first but realised after the arst "reading that it Was most" interest- , ing and had great possibilities though it was diificult to cohvey to, the listeners the feeling of the play when there were no costumes and no scenery. "At first we had at our meetings the cast and three or f our listeners," said

Mrs Perrin, 1 ' and we wondered if it was worth while keeping on. However, cur readers enjoyed it so much that we felt that we need not bother about outsiders. No one was rung up but anyone who came of her own accord was welcome. The . audience gradually grew until it is the size that you now know. ' * - Mrs Perrin said that she had beeu" leading the circle for 13 years and would never tire of it because her real interest. was in it. She also paid a tribute to the invaluabie work done by' the circle secretary, Mrs E. V. Simpson,, who wae responsible for sending for the plays and returning them ahd was very kelpful.

Mrs Perrin said that she hoped that the eoining year would.be a most interesting one with good modern plays* to read ahd one-aet plays to act. Among those plays included in the proposed programme were: "Call It a Day" (C. L. Anthony) for the first meeting next nionth, "The Silver Cord" (Sidney Howard), "Behold We Live" (van Druten), "Milestones" (Arnold Bennett), "The Last Evening" (Frank Harvey), "Nothing But the Truth" (J. Montgomery), "These Pretty Things (Gertrude Jennings). For acting Mrs Perrin suggested "Granny's Juliet" (Herbert Swears), "The Crystal Gazer" (Leopold Montaguo), "Gho.sts On Christmas Eve" (Mrs N. B. Latter) and for reading "Marc.li Wedding" (Muriel and Sydney Box), "Play Goers" (A. W. Pinero), "How He Lied to Her Husband" (G. B. Shaw), "Chinese White." Afternoon tea was handed round and enjoyed and the members discussed plans for the various circle activities. , Those present were: Mrs T. H. Lowry,

• the president j Mrs H. Lovell-Smith, the honorary secretary; Mrs F. Perrin, Mrs Ev VY Simpson,* Mrs W. j. White, Mrs A. Giorgi, Mrs J. Harris, Mrs H. Gilberteon, Mrs Bach, Mrs B. Paynter, Miss A. , Seal, Mrs J. Wright, Mrs B. • Puflett, , Mrs E, Curlett, Mrs J. W. Bates, -Mrs F. S. Budd, Mrs W. A. Greer, Mrs H. W. C. Baird, >Mrs E. Biley, Mrs Gordon Boach.