DRAMATIC FESTIVAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24226, 19 February 1940, Page 9

DRAMATIC FESTIVAL

A CENTENNIAL EFFORT , PROGRAMME BY REPERTORY SOCIETY One-act plays and a brief historical and dramatic commentary on the last 90 years in Ot£go were presented by the Dunedin Repertory Society to a crowded house in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Saturday night. An excellent standard of performance was achieved in the two well-selected plays which comprised the first half of the evening’s entertainment, and, if the lavish intention of the historical cavalcade was not quite fulfilled, a commendable attempt was made to provide some interesting though not always significant cameos of the modes and manners of another day and age. Such an incursion into the realm of pageantry could hardly have failed to be highly costly if adeauately attempted, but the impression was gained that preparation and organisation must have been at as great a premium as actual funds. The sketches were widely, represented of a long period of time, and were frequently amusing, but the importance of the occasion might well have been heightened by a realisation on the part of the society that such expenditure as might have been involved would have been non-recurring—at least for 100 years. . During the evening the Mayor (Mr A H. Allen) briefly addressed the audience in terms appropriate to the celebrations of which the programme was at part, and sketched the progress of Dunedin and Otago since the early days of colonisation in this part of the Dominion., “The Family Comedy"

The; opening offering was “ Th« Family Comedy,” by Marjorie Bowen, a delightfully-compounded mixture of melodrama and farce, embodying nothing more serious than a good old family free-for-all 100 years ago. The play was well produced by Miss Kathleen Falconer, and was distinguished by some neat and facile characterisation. On occasions, the far from easy pace of the production varied to the point of boggling, but the cast carried the piece through to a very fair anticlimax. Mr J. W. Hayward had the lion’s share 'to do, and did it well. Movement, gesture, and speech were well balanced, and he gave colour and vigour to the role, despite an undue fondness for one particular corner of the stage. Mrs L. Griffiths alternately wept and stormed very well, and Miss Edna Lungley interfered with amusing adroitness and effect as the spinster sister. Miss Isa Garden was delightful in a child study which called for considerable artistry, and Misses Peggy Griffiths and Doreen Rhodes and Mr Leslie Dunbar filled the remaining roles adequately.. “The Trollop’s Triumph” Miss Irene Hall’s sparkling burlesque, “The Trollop’s Triumph,” was the gem of the evening. Produced by Mr Desmond Greenslade, it was an instant success, mainly due to the droll brilliance of Miss Roa Johnson, who captured the stage, the play, and her audience with almost the first whisk of her broom, and certainly with the first utterance of absurdly delightful lines. Confidence, understanding, and a' rare gift of comedy were strikingly apparent throughout her whole performance. and even when someone else fell ’ momentarily out of step it was she -who lifted the piece up again. Mr Maurice Joel, as the aged Mr Peachblossom, was also excellent in appearance, speech, and movement. Mr Peter Dawson was in his element, and exaggerated everything to his heart’s content without doing violence to anybody or anything. Mr James Tannock was never very comfortable, but he filled the bill fairly competently.

“A Cavalcade of History”

“A Cavalcade of History,” with Miss Jessie McLennan as commentator, swiftly surveying the march of time since 1848, began with a, bevy of “ Maori belles ” singing Native melodies. Then followed scenes symbolic of selected periods in the provincial history. A couple leaving the first church service in 1848 expressed the hopes and fears of the newly-arrived settlers, and Mr C. R. Smith recited “A Miner’s Memories,” by Thomas Bracken, to illustrate the hectic days of gold-seeking in the 60’s. .“ The Duke of Edinburgh’s Ball ” m 1869 was represented bv a conversation in an anteroom. and a typical family evening of music and song typified home life in the 70’s. A glimpse of dress modes in 1910 was followed by martial music to revive memories of the last war, and the chatter of women laden with the spoils of the race-down alley symbolised the Dunedin Exhibition of 192526. As a Grand Finale Britannia was depicted surrounded by the represen : tatives of the successive generations already illustrated, and a conclusive touch was given to proceedings by the rendering of “ Land of Hope and Glory ” by Miss Bertha Rawlinson. which was followed by “ God Defend New Zealand.” and the National Anthem.