DRAMA FESTIVAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1938, Page 7

DRAMA FESTIVAL

NORTH ISLAND ELIMINATION CONTEST DANNEVIRKE TEAM PLACED FIRST. EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES LAST EVENING. Two marks separated the first three plays selected by the judge, Miss Elizabeth Blake at the North Island Elimination Festival of the British Drama League, which concluded in the Opera House last night before a large and appreciative audience. The play selected to go forward to the National Finals at Hastings on October 26 was “The Hikers,” a Scottish comedy presented by the Knox Players, Dannevirke, winners of the Southern Hawke’s Bay area contest. One mark behind were the Levin Playreaders, who presented “The Theatre of the Soul,” and another mark behind were the Napier Repertory. Players with “Dirge Without Dole.” The Wairarapa winners, St Matthew’s Old Girls, with their play “White Queen —Red Queen” were stated to be only a mark or two behind the third p!ay. “I haven’t seen a play m the six which I could not conscientously recommend in one direction or another to go forward to the finals,” said Miss Blake in her concluding remark’s. She congratulated the teams on their efforts, and paid a tribute to the excellent work which had been done in connection with the festival by Mrs E. J. Rich, hon secretary, Mr V. Joseph, hon treasurer and Mr T. Wynne, stage manager.

Following are details of the plays presented last night:— Knox Players, Dannevirke, “The Hikers” (Joe Corrie), produced by Mrs. K. MacDonald:—Cast: Grannie Canlesh, Mrs W. Dobson; Leezie Canlesh (her grand-daughter), Mrs J. Calder; Jean, Mrs D. Crooks; Maggie, Mrs K. MacDonald; Daisy, Mrs B. McKenzie. Napier Repertory Players, “Dirge Without Dole” (Cedric Mount), produced by May MacDonald: —Cast: The Man, Gordon Johansen; His Wife, Valerie Lewis; Their Elder Child, Nancy Harvey; Their Younger Child, Edith Annan; The Bishop, John Rossieur; The Fascist, Clifford Cross; The Scientist, Winifred McCarthy; The Business Man, Percy Spiller; The Communist, Jenner Cunningham; The Adjudicator, A. E. Renouf.

All Saints’ Players, Wellington, “The Old Bull” (Bernard Gilbert):—Charles Elmitt, Noel Cathie; James Elmitt (his brother), Diamond Robinson; William Smithson (their uncle), Fred Sanderson; Tom. Bones (farm foreman), Fred Porter; Sarah Tensley (housekeeper), Dorothy Jesson. THE WINNING PLAY. “It is universally admitted by stage people that good comedy is one of the hardest of all forms of acting,” said Miss Blake, when discussing the winning play “The Hikers.” “You can act drama, even great tragedy, with greater ease. For the greater part of the performance of ‘The Hikers,’ ” the judge continued, “we did not have to go to meet the players. The comedy was brought to us.” The team-work between the three hikers and Leezie was excellent comedy, Miss Blake observed. Grannie’s movements were very-good. Her difficult move across stage to get the whisky was very well done. Leezie gave an excellent performance. It was very good character acting. Jean, too, played her part excellently. She really made the girl live. She really looked as if she had taken charge of the situation. “Maggie is the only placer of the evening who has earned the, full quota of marks,” Miss Blake stated, amid applause. “She had a part which fitted her like a glove. Nothing she did in the play was ineffective. She has a natural stage sense, and is an entirely unselfish player. Daisy provided an excellent contrast. The use of movement throughout the play was absolutely unstilted. There was one bad group, but after that things happened naturally. “I considered it good comedy acting.” “This is a producer’s play,” said Miss Blake, commenting on “Dirge Without Dole.” “It depends on the willing obedience of the team to the producer. The players are symbols of types.” The play did not call for such a degree of individual characterisation, she added. The first scene was a very effective one. The contrasting lights were very good, and the central group worked* with very admirable co-ordination. The Man gave a very strong, good performance. The Wife had an excellent voice, and her general appearance and attitude was very good. The children worked very well. Their timing was excellent. The Bishop had a good voice. The Fascist played his little part very well. The Scientist was a little inclined to pick up the pace used by the Fascist and the Business Man. She might have made a greater variation by slowing down a little. However, it was a sound, efficient performance. The Business Man and the Communist were quite sound. The Adjudicator's piece was very well delivered. The production was consistently effective. The colours were good; the dresses right. The crowd “noises-off” were excellent and the final scene was extremely well done. “A thoroughly good and efficient performance,” Miss Blake concluded. “This play is not an easy one to produce,” observed Miss Blake in her discussion of the “The Old Bull.” “About three-fifths of it is carried on practically without any action at all.” Tom Jones was a little too clean and tidy for a farm foreman. Sarah’s get-up was excellent. Her sorrow at the loss of the yew tree was well brought out. It was a good performance. James gave her great pleasure. He had a sense of repressed emotion which was excellent. Charles looked a little young in comparison with James. His work when he was angry was very good. Some of the best stage whiskers the judge had seen lately were possessed by William Smithson. His reading of the will was very good, but his voice was slightly intellectual for the landlord of an inn. It was a sincere, restrained performance. “I should like to congratulate the producer on the excellence of the setting,” said Miss Blake. “It was an efficient, smooth-running performance of a good little play.”