DRAMA LEAGUE

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20256, 27 July 1937, Page 8

DRAMA LEAGUE

FESTIVAL IN HAMILTON. VERY SUCCESSFUL OPENING. SOME ENTERTAINING PLAYS. The second annual festival of thi Waikato Area of the British Drami League was opened in the Wintei Show Hall last night, with Mr E Campbell I .at Tie. of Auckland, as adjudicator. There was a large audience. The ptesident (Very' Rev. Dean Weatherhog). the secretary (Mrs J. Prenton). and the committee had all arrangements well in hand, and everything passed c.T very successfully. Dean Weatherhog welcomed the audience and the judge and read a message of good wishes to the teams from Miss Elizabeth Loe. Mr Laurie, in replying, said he welcomed ttie opportunity to judge al the festival, end would do his utmosl to make it a success. He hoped the teams would realise that any criticisrr he gave was of a constructive nature He did not desire to hurt anyone bui would express his own definite views on the plays. Interesting and Entertaining Plays. Three plays—-one junior and two senior—were presented. They provided variety in theme and treatment, and as the standard of work was high the audience found them very interesting and entertaining. " The Language of Love,” by Edward Perry, was staged by the Peter Pan Players, under ttie direction of Mrs Zelda Fahey. The cast was as follows: Letty, Enid Taggard: Susan, Hazel Robinson; Elizabeth, Margaret Scrimshaw; Rosemary, Rosalie Seddon; Aunt Penelope, Betty Gibson; Aunt Deborah, Ruth Carbon; Jane, Kathleen Robertson. This was a charming little " period ** play of an understanding aunt who, ground down by her domineering sister, but with memories of her own love story, made the way easy for the romance of her niece. The Judge said it was a delightful play, and the team work—as in most children's work—was excellent. The characterisation and audibility were very good, but the pace could have been varied to better effect. The lighting was very effective. All the performers were charming, and the play had provided a very auspicious opening to the festival and had made him eager to see more. A Vivid Little Play. “ And Now —the Journey,” by Conrad C. Carter, presented by the Hamilton Piavbox under the direction of Mr E. K. Brown, was a vivid mixture of propaganda and spirituality. it told of a man who had been killed In the war "returning" twenty years later to his wife who had married a drunken brute and been strangled by him. The characters were: Kate, Gwen Marsh: Jean, Marjorie Houghton; Henry, Keith Brown; Bert, Erio Ewart. The Judge said the play had been among the best plays of 1935. and was a fine thing to tackle. Like rnanj modern plays it had a definite meaning and message. The players did gooc work, though ttie women were too sweet in their characterisation; they should have been more ** common.” The fighting was very bad. “ The Pacifist.” by Olive Popplewell,” was staged by the Hinuera Women’s Institute, with Mrs Catha Wade as producer and the following cast: Mrs Cromland. Kathleen Robinson; .Mavis Cromland, henna McKernan; Janet, Anne Brown: Mrs Noton, Isabel Germann; Amy Noton, Ailsa Hawke: Miss Beecv, Ella Rowe; Miss Marshland. Jean Hollis; Mrs Thrumhall. May Standing.

This was an entertaining little play of a girl who became imbued with the desire to spread the doctrine of pacifism, and a scatterbrained mother who came to the rescue when the girl received a setback. The judee said as a comedy the production had been very enjoyable. The grouping was too uniform and more speed was necessary. for comedy must be taken at a terrific pace and with the snapping up of cues. The characterisation and team work was good, and it was a very even performance. To-night’s Programme. The festival will he continued tonight. when the following plav s will be staged: " X—O." Waikato Diocesan School: "A Girl for the Hall." Welcome Bay—llairini Women's Institute ' Number Ten," Gordonion Women's institute: and "The Man with th* Bowler Hat,” Hamilton Piavbox.