DRAMA SOCIETY'S YEAR

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 141, 8 October 1954, Page 7

DRAMA SOCIETY'S YEAR

REPORT ON ACTIVITIES The second Annual Report of the Committee of the Taupo Dramatic Society, read at the annual meeting of the Society on September 22 by the President, Col. J. E, Barton, gave details of a successful year's activities. The Committee had held 16 meetings, all being well attended. Miss D. Cohen had been appointed to the Committee on Mr J. C. Kellett's resignation, and Mrs J. Dixon had later been co-opted as an additional member. The Society owed a definite debt of gratitude to Mr Arthur Kennedy, honorary secretary almost since the Society's inception, who had intimated that he could not continue in that capacity. The Committee placed on record its very sincere appreciation of the time and energy he had devoted to the Society's affairs. The Society's membership totalled 110 at the close of last year and had by the close of the current year reached 137. Whilst this might be considered satisfactory it was very necessary that it be substantially increased. A target of 200 to 250 members should be aimed at. Plays Produced Four major productions were presented during the year. "Mr Pim Passes By," produced by Mr Charles Leslie, ran two nights in November last and was well received. "The Happiest Days Of Your Life," produced by Mr Amold Goodwin, was presented for five nights during last Christmas holidays, and houses though not good during the earlier performances, improved considerably later. "Ladies In Retirement" was produced in May for a two night season by Mr Charles Leslie, and on the night after the Taupo season was presented in the Rotorua Concert Chamber, this being the first time the Society had presented a play outside Taupo. It was well received and reviewed in Rotorua. "A Woman's Place" was produced on August 24 and 25 by Miss Dulcie Cohen and was an outstanding success. It was suggested to the incoming Committee that this play might well be one of two to be presented during the Christmas holiday season. Members Taking Part Looking back over the two years of the Society's life, it is interesting to note that 42 members have interpretated 65 characters. Eleven members only have appeared in both years' productions and of these, six have appeared once in each year, the remaining five having appeared on three or more occasions in the two years. It will thus be appreciated that the Committee has continued the Society's policy of distributing as widely as possible the opportunity to take part in its major productions. The only limiting factors are the number of members avaiiable and willing to take part and the suitability of those available for the characters to be depicted. Readings have, for the most part of the year, been held fortnightly when major productions have not been on. Seventeen one-act plays and one three-act play were produced by various members. One of these was, strictly speaking, not a "reading" but fully rehearsed and dressed and presented with proper stage settings. The play was produced by Grace Booth. Very great credit is due to the producers and casts of these readings, particularly the last mentioned. It is hoped that more might be done in this direction during the coming year. It is suggested for the consideration of the in-coming Committee that the partially rehearsed and un-rehears-ed readings might be reduced in

number during the coming year. Two of the readings were written by a local authoress, Mrs Treve Price, and it is sincerely hoped that more will be heard from her and from other local talent in the near future. On one of our members' evenings, six High School pupils put on a very enjoyable oneact reading. The Society welcomed this very creditable performance and hoped to see more. The formation of a Junior Drama Club would have the enthusiastic support of the Society not only as an additional attraction for its members but as a very useful recruiting ground for its future acting members. One of the most interesting activities of the year was a very ir;structive week-end school conducted by Mrs Freda Wilson, under a scheme sponsored by the New Zealand Drama Council. Mrs Wilson lectured on various aspects of stage-craft and conducted an audition for the cast of a one-act play which was presented together with two others previously produced. The statement of income and expenditure for the year showed receipts £465/12/3, and expenditure £438/4/8, leaving a credit balance of £27/7/7. The Society had been. very fortunate in having the use of lighting equipment purchased by the Borough Council for the Memorial Hall and was very grateful to the Council for its co-operation -and placed on record its appreciation of same.