DRAMATIC CONCERT.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 4, 19 June 1930, Page 2

DRAMATIC CONCERT.

Quite a goodly audience greeted t3ie Hutt Valley High. School! Old Pupils/ Dramatic Club's dramatic concert which, was held in St. James's Hall on Thursday, June 12th!.' The opening item of this highly successful concert was a delightful Chopin number on the piano ■by Miss D. La Roche, who was also down for an en 'traete, but unfortunately she. was not again heard. A oneact comedy "Postal Orders" by R. Bertwee .followed. The Misses R. Judd, E. Watson-Munrp, M. Glover, L. Mair and W. Taylor were the cast. The scene—a post oificer (one wotdd imagine a country one), run by three members of the gentler sex whos<e business methods were entirely in keeping with the reputation thetr sex only too fre^ quently enjoys, as those two customers who endeavoured to do business (?) there, somewhat impatiently testified I TBie utter lack, of bu&iness axsumen sentimentality, delightful disregard of time (with the exception of closing time!) and general obtruseness of the young women in charge "was a cause of great amusement to the audience. *' The - Monkey 'a Pa-w" was the nextitem on the programme. A dramatic story, most dramatically acted. Truly, the acting in this play was a revelation and one felt it difficult to believe one was witnessing an amateur performance. Mr. H. B. Hepworth as <fMr White" left nothing to be desired and Miss A. Elliott, as " Mrs. White" <ot "mother" was just . the sweet motherly soul she ought to have been,

while Mr. J. Taylor as the son "Her;bert" was simply _ an everyday laddie, but ot course the apple of his parents' eye—and the only one! Mr. H. W. Laiwrenee as Mr. Sampson ,t«h.e lawyer, acted his part exceHently,' while Mr. F. N. Hastings's acting as Sergt-Major* Morris was of a very high standard indeed. The third act of this play, ■with its emotional and dTamatic demand,, was indeed a test for these youmg players and one almost trembled for them, but those qualms proved groundless, for Mr. Hepwortti's masterly portrayal of the terrible climax to the play loft nothing to be desired. A d rama : " Waterloo by . Sir Arthur Conan Doyle concluded the programme. ThiTroleof .Coiyoral Gregory Brdwster' was taken by Mr. F; N. Hastings and his acting of this part was beyond I criticism. Sergeant Archie McDonald R.A., was a young man to captivate the ! heart of any maiden and indeed, judging by appearances, -he seemed in a fair way to being s-uceesstful in this respect. —in~''the quaTter where it was- very evident he desired that success! Miss Ailsa 'Wallace as- ''Norah Brewster" was a most dainty, winsome maid.; During the interval Mr. Kidson said he considered the acting that evening was of a very high order and also said he would like to. express his gratitude to Mr. Burke, who had. been of great as-' sisitance in the produation of one of the plays and also said how indebted th.§ Old Pupils' Dramatic Club were to Miss Cooley and .Mr. MeNaugiht for their share in making the concert the great success it had been.