PRINCESS THEATRE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1927, Page 1

PRINCESS THEATRE

ST. PAUL’S DRAMATIC CLUB

A beginning—a most promising beginning—was the general verdict by the capacity house at the Princess Theatre last evening, when St. Paul’s Dramatic Club produced three playlets. There were some thirty-one characters, and of these only three of the performers had previous stage experience. The productions might therefore well he classed as a most promising beginning for the Club. All connected with the evening’s programme are to he congratulated on the uniform success. Taking the evening’s productions as a whole there must have been an immense amount of work lor the organisers. The staging and dressing alone with the changes in scenes, involved much careful forethought, while the training of the performers in the details and business of the parts was again a considerable undertaking. Whatever difficulties there were to ho surmounted, had been triumphed over, and the whole was a generally even performance, with hut few bleniishep, an<l a pleasure and a delight to the audience, who applauded loudly and frequently. "The Will ” was a three-net playlet, with a novel setting. Messrs .Tack and Paul Renton were the solicitors, whose appearance at the outset suggested the hallmark of success to the evening’s entertainment. Mr X. Houston phased the vicissitudes of Phillip Ross as he rose to fortune and fame very convincingly. The character of ids wife was dclinintcd by Miss Jean DalF. as the very timorous one, Icarful of the calamity to follow the making of a will, and seconded by Miss Inn Howard, as the assertive wife who had outgrown her timidity and was eager to assert her rights. Messrs Spargo and Johnson were tDo clerks, the former doleful as a Dickens’ character of the type portrayed. It was left for Mr S. Brooks to delineate the character of the solicitor who lived in the past, and a very convincing characterisation it was. The whole presentation was very acceptably received by the large audi-

" The Dear Departed” was a oneact presenta Lion depicting domestic life wherein tile daughters waited with u good deal of hopeful expectation ol grandfather (Mr S. Brooks was grandfather), and events proved he had no intention of dying. On the contrary in the climax of the play he announced his approaching marriage, and so upset the expectations ol the avaricious pair. Mr and Mrs Slater were presented by Mr H. Kennedy and Miss 0. Pollock and Mr and Mrs Jordan by Mr K. Glover and Miss I. Kngiht. ’I he atmosphere ot the home was excellently created, and the whole scene was a very even production. The meal episode was depicted with very life-like eilect. and the principals all deserve praise for their well sustained effort, and the attention to the business ol their parts. The rival sisters were quite successful in their quarrel scene, and made this playlet perhaps the most uniformly suecesslul ol the three. .Mention must lie made of little Cora Lvnn. who as the grandchild gave quite a distinctive performance in her small part.

" Powder and Patches ” was the most ambitious ol the three productions. The caste was as follows: Mr and Mrs Carter. Miss Wylie and Mr Hulpi 11 ; Agnes (daughter), Miss Cederman ; Betty (a friend), Miss Ada Lynn; Prudence (a Quakeress) Miss AT. Perry; Lady Burlingham. .Miss M. Pollock; Lord Alawley. Rev. KnowlesSmitli (who was called on at short notice to take the part of Mr Gardiner, indisposed) ; Captain Payton, Air R\ Ferguson; Lieut. Burns, Air C. Pierson; Amelia. Miss E. Boyd; Geranium (negress). AIT s s F. Sparkes ; Gabriel (negro), Mr G. Sparkes. The play was set in the period of the American War oi ludependenoe. and the characters were dressed to the times. This must have-entailed much work, for tlie wardrobe was a lavish one. Airs Knowles-Smitli. who was mistress of tlie wardrobe, was responsible for the outstanding success ol the dressing. The parts were well taken as a whole, some of them being quite outstanding. The interest of the audience was riveted in the progress ol tlie plot which centred in securing Agnes as a bride for Captain Payton in preference to Lord Alawley. and of course the course of true love ran true to tradition.

It was (piite a happy idea to arrange a tableau of all the performers for the evening before the filial curtain, when bouquets and sweets were handed up to the i>erforiiiers. Jtev. Knowles-Smith in a happy speech expressed thanks to all who had assisted, and spoke ot the effort being an initial one. with the idea of producing something more sustained and ambitious later on, lie referred to the help rendered by Hiss I.vim and others behind the scenes, and particularly to Mr Percy Goodfellow and the orchestra for their generous support, a reference heartily applauded. for the audience had enjoyed the productions of the orchestra of seven instruments between the acts.

The evening’s programme concluded shortly before 11 o’clock, with the hearty singing of the National Anthem, and a very pleased and satisfied audience dispersed with very agreeable memories of the evening’s entertainment. St. Paul’s Dramatic (Tub has certainly established its reputation, and future appearances will he awaited with interest.