PLAY READING SUCCESS

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 67, 29 April 1953, Page 2

PLAY READING SUCCESS

Last Wednesday's Dramatic Society playreadings were probably the best of the season so far, and they added their quota of discoveries to the society's quest for talent, including, to everyone's delight, two male leads capable of distinguishing themselves in character phrts in the future. The .fiirst one-act play read was a drama "Judgement Here/' by Norman Holland, which was effectively produced under difficuities by Shirley Laughton. Sally Kent, who has put up come excellent peyformances in comedy roles, was particuiafly good in her first attempt in ^ d ra ma ti e ■part, and, in company with Jim Rii - nie wcirked the play up splendidly to the curtain. The cast were: Elsa, Sally Kent, Paul Eddisori, Jim Birnie; Bella Reynolds, Norah Morea; Lilian Reynolds, Vera Leyland; and Linda Fraser, Kath Scott, "Enclosed Premises,', a comedy with a touch of drma, wrftten by Phiiip Johnson, was produeed byi Margaiet Beale. An outstanding performance was given in this reading by John Kellett Who portrqyed a Chaplinesque figure in the part of Edgar Moon. The latter is a hen-pecked husband who decides to asseft himself ' against his wife, Esta, played by Losis Denize, and her mothea1 Mts Bamber (Beryl Kennedy). Both of these aequitted themselves exceptidnall/ well in providing a fearsome bairricade against the pathetic Edgaw whose sqheme to escape goes awry. The minor parts were well ihterpreted by Margaret Beale as Clare Bamber, Esta Moon's millirter sister, w.ho whiuied on and oli' the stage like a hurricane and Tbm Cur-^ ham who was a dignihed but rather shy ftgure as Edga^Ls bosB> Mr (Jerald Bastaple. The whole reading was particqlarly : well played by a yonng cast who went to considerable trouble to make the production as near perfect as it is- possible to make a reading. : / . - r