DRAMA FESTIVAL

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20257, 28 July 1937, Page 8

DRAMA FESTIVAL

SUCCESS IN HAMILTON. ENTERTAINING PLAYS PRESENTED LARGE AUDIENCE INTERESTED. The Winter Show Hall was packed last night, when the second annual festival of the Waikato Area of the Rrtish Drama League was continued. The work of the players was acaln of a high standard, and with plenty of variety in the plays presented, ranging from G"eek tragedy to modern farce, the programme proved intensely interesting and enjoyable. The president of the League. Dean Weatherhog. introduced the judge. Mr. E. Campbell Laurie, and stated that owing to flie length of the programme it had been decided that Mr. Laurie confine his remarks to general comment on the plays presented and give more detailed criticism to the players after the performance. Mr. Laurie assured the teams that any criticism he might make was intended to he constructive and should not he taken as a personal matter. He congratulated Hie League on the excellent manner in which the festival was going. Poignant Greek Tragedy. “ X—O.*’ hv John Drinkwater. was staged by the Waikato Diocesan School, under flic direction of Miss Z. Robins, the cast being:—Prnnax, Qona Turner; j Salvins, Ciishla Milroy; Ilus. Sheila Smith: tiapvs. .loan Morton: Sentinel i’rMv Earner: Servant. Joan Wallis. This was a striking little play, ic poetic language, showing the utlei futility of war. which destroVed th« dreams and ideals which might have been devoted to the betterment oi humanity, and left the balance Just as before, for in the incident depicted in the play two soldiers on each side were killed. The judge congratulated the players on a very sincere performance. The poetry of the lines had been fully realised and expressed, the team work and audibility had been coed, and the lighting had been very effective. The girls had reached great hpiehts. and he had been delighted with their performance. An Amusing Comedy. “ A Girl for the Hall,” bv Margen Nugent, was presented by the Welcome Bay-Hairinl Women's Institute, with Mrs. F. Dickinson as producer and the following cast:—Rose. Helen Wood; Flora, Edna Keam; Winnie, Nancy Keam; Lo's. Mrs. Read; Matron, Mrs. A. Rowsell: Assistant Matron, Mrs. Cloi—>er; Miss Piper, Mrs. F. Dickinson; Mrs. Marling, Mrs. Skinner. This was an amusing comedy, with some deeper touches of sentiment. It told of the love of the inmate of a girl’s home and a rich young man of the neighbourhood, and the surpr'se climax came when the mother of the oung man. far from raising objec-

Hons, welcomed the romance. The judge said the setting, audibility and team work had been *rood. but a little more pace occasionally would have improved the production. It was an amusing play, and the players had done very well. He congratulated them. Is It Justified? “ Number Ten." by M. and S. Box, presented a problem that has caused a lot of thought lately—should a patient who suffers terribly from an incurable disease be put out of his misery by one who loves him? There are strong arguments on both sides, and Hie little play gave one solution -of the problem very vividly. Set in a hospital. it told of a nurse who gave an overdose of landanum to the man she loved. With Mrs. 11. Alderwick as producer. the cast was as follows:—Amy, Mrs. E. McMullen: Sister Helen. Mrs. It. Alderwick: Freda, Miss B. O’Hearn; Nurse Roberts, Mrs. G. Watt; Mary, Mrs. P. Laidlaxv; Nurse Blake. Miss G. Morgan: Nurse Matthews, Miss V. Alderwick: Nurse Fitzroy, Miss L. o’Hearn: The Matron. Mrs. T. Saxton; Mrs. Maitland. Miss M. Carswell. The judge said the play was interesting—s’mple yet true to life. The players had got the hospital atmosphere very well, and the tram work was excellent. One gratifying feature was that it bad “gone with a bang" from the beginning—a very fine thing. Funny Burlesque. The final play of Ihe evening was “ The Man with the Bowler Hat,” by A. A. Milne, staged by the Hamilton Playbox under the direction of Mr. L. Tnkle. The players were:—John, William Blakeway; Mary, Violet I : nder: Hero, Noel Blunt; Heroine, Elva Adam: Chief Villain. Kenneth Fade: Bad Man. John Reidy; The Man. Pringle Nelson. This is a very funny hurlesque of a mystery thriller. Into a home “where nothing over happens” come all tlie characters of an old-time melodrama. with exritine and amusing results. The judge said the characters had been very well sustained —the home couple had kept the audience on tenterhooks as they should, ihe villain had looked a villain and his hand movements (very well done) aim swagger had been properly melodramatic. the had man had been in the picture all ihe time. Ihe hero and heroine had exaggerated the emotion convincingly, and the silent man had helped to create the right atmosphere. The make-up was particularly good. It was an excellent production. To-night’s Programme. The festival will he continued tonight. when the programme will include:—"Michael,” Hamilton Placers: "The Murder Scream.” Cambridge Dramatic Sociely; and “ The Spartan Girl,” W.E.A. Drama Circle.