DRAMA FESTIVAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1939, Page 5

DRAMA FESTIVAL

ST. MATTHEW’S CHURCH TEAM FIRST TIE FOR SECOND PLACE. JUDGE IMPRESSED WITH TALENT IN MASTERTON. The Waii’arapa Drama League's festival was conducted in l lie Opera House lasi night. when i lie final four seiiior plays were presented. Tile jililge, Mr Myles Wright, awarded ihe S| .\1 all h('\V s (’hiireii i'cam, “Hands Across Hie Sea,” first, and the St Matthew’s School Old Girls, “Mirror Io Elizabeth” and I'tlei- Pan Players, “Bring Me My Bow” (equal) second. He stated that he would like to mention also the Wairar.ipa College team’s play, “'t'he Black Horseman.” which had impressed him. \ery miieli. Mr Wright said lie h:u! found it difficult to compare (days of such different type. The plays presented last night and the respective casts were: — Pahiatua No. 1, “Good Blood, Bad Blood" (Walter Hudd): Penelope Hawkins (parlourmaid al Flummery Castle), Mrs H. Maekiey; Bradshaw (butler at Flummery Castle). J. P. Hogan; the Hon. Mr-', Vr.rnpley, Mrs E. F. Vincent; Lady Rhone Gelding. Mrs T. Clarke; the Duchess ot Flummery. Mrs A. Hamilton: the Duke of Flummery. E. F. Vincent. Producer: Mr E. F. Vincent.

Savage Club. "Thread o’ Scarlet" (J. J. Bell): Landlord, S. J. Barber; Breen. J. A. Kennedy; Migsworth, C. J. Curtin; Smith. .A. P. Handcock; Butters, V. S. Wilton: Traveller. O. Hemmingsen. Producer: Mi J. A. Kennedy. . Pahiatua No. 2. "When the Whirlwind Blows" (Essex Dane): Josepha (mother of Oswald the Blacksmith, and a member of the Workers’ Council). Mrs T. Clarke; Anna (lately lady’s maid to Madame Androya). Mrs E. B. Watson; Madame Elizabeth Androya wife of General Androya. leader of the Army of the Regular Government), Mrs E. F. Vincent; Voice. E. Vincent. Producer: Mrs T. Clarke. St. Matthew's Church Team. "Hands Across the Sea" (Noel Coward): Lady Maureen Gilpin (“Piggie”), Jocelyn Betts; Commander Peter Gilpin. R.N. (her husband). W. C. Mann: the Hon. Clare Wedderburn, Patricia Jordan; Lieut.-Commander Alastair Corbett. G. C. L. Dickel; Major Gosling (“Bogey”), J. Lawson; Mr Wadhurst. J. Claridge; Mrs Wadhurst, Grace Gaud in; Mr Burnham. P. Parsons: Walters. Patricia Thomas. Producer: Mrs E. J. Rich.

Commenting on the plays presented last night, Mr Wright said he wished to congratulate the players on an entertaining evening. "Good Blood. Bad Blood" was a burlesque which was very difficult acting. On the whole the play opened a little too quietly, every move should be larger than life. Timing was important in a comedy and the presentation was a little slack in that direction: there were pauses where there should not have been any. The lines might have been taken more easily and the lighting cues were bad. The candles hid people at the back of the stage. There were one or two rather awkward moves and turns. The Duchess knelt on the wrong knee. In "Thread o’ Scarlet" the characterisation of Migsworth and Smith should have been more clearly defined. The Landlord should bo bluff, hearty and cheery. The thunder was a bit weak and there was slackness on the cues. The traveller lit a cigarette and paused too long. He held up the dialogue. Butters had a good idea. He should perhaps have stood sometimes. The final line was too vigorous. The makeup could have been improved. Breen’s was very good indeed. The stage setting was too regular and the final curtain was held far too long.

In "When the Whirlwind Blows" the cues were too slow and the make-up was too pale. The players did build to a climax, then fall and build again, as they should have done. The maid, was too restless and should cultivate stillness. The lighting did not change as the lamp went on and of. The dialogue between the mistress and the maid at the beginning should have been fiiore slowly and forcefully handled. "Hands Across the Sea" succeeded very well. The lines and cues were slower at the middle of the play. The setting was old and could have been brighter. The telephone speeches were difficult; facial expression should give all necessary enlightenment. Piggie and Clare should have been more clearly differentiated. Clare he liked particularly. The stage business was well managed; the moves were very good. Some of the laughs were good but some were too explosive. Coward players should let the lines do the laughs. Mr T. Jordan, president, presented the cup to Mi's E. J. Rich, producer of the winning team. In doing so. he appealed for increased support for the amateur drama and advised people to take part in it themselves. Mr Jordan thanked all who had taken part, in the festival and the judge. The society ho said, had made a fortunate choice in its judge and he hoped that it would not be the last time they would have Mr Wright with them. It was a pleasure to have Mr and Mrs Wright in Masterton. Mr Wright'said there was excellent acting talent in Masterton. lit 1 had seen some good performances al the festival. He advised more detailed study of production. There was an art in production—the presentation of the spirit of the play to the audience. The play must meet the wishes of the audience and its intellectual level. He suggested a drama school devoted to production, run with the sole object of producing a one act play. Mr Wright said he was pleased with the audience on both nights. Sometimes it was hard in Wellington find audiences. All could help by attending drama league produetions. Mr Wright intimated that he would supply detailed criticisms and avymd certificates al a later date.

Supper was served on the stage after the production to Mr and Mrs Myles Wright, the committee and the players.