DRAMA FESTIVAL

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20259, 30 July 1937, Page 8

DRAMA FESTIVAL

CONTINUED SUCCESS VIVID ANTI-WAR PLAY. AUTHOR IN AUDIENCE. There was another large audience at the Winter Show Hall last night, when the second annual festival of the Waikato Area of the British Drama League was continued. The plays presented were very varied in theme, and as the work of the performers was of a high standard those present spent an interesting <«nd enjoyable evening.

Added interest was given to the presentation of " The Tomb of Od ” by the fact that the author. Mr J. A. S. Coppard, was amongst the audience. Charming Children.

Excerpts from Shakespeare’s “ A Midsummer Night’s Dream ’’ were given under the direction of Mrs Zelda Fahey, with the following cast: Puck. Marie Prendegast; Fairy, Coleen O'Brien; Oberon, Roy Marsh; Titania, Pamela Linder; Indian Boy. Robin Fahey; Bottom, Lynette Webb.

The scene chosen was that in which Oberon and the mischievous Puck put the lotion on the eyelids of the sleeping Titania, with the result that she fell in love with the first object she saw when she awoke—an ass! The judge said the children had reached a very high standard, quite equal to that set hv the performers in other children's plays. They were very young people, and that had to be taken into account. The lighting and costumes were effective, and the gestures and movements very good. The play was excellently done. Women’s Institute Production. “ The Rebel," by T. N. Nicholls, was the choice of the Raglan Women's Institute, with Mrs Reynolds as producer and the following cast:—Aunt Arabella, Mrs F. Bernard: Aunt Phoebe, Miss N. Walter; Esther. Mrs I. Orr; Sally, Miss L. Mclvor; Biddy, Miss R. Earl. The rebellion of a woman who had been dominated by her embittered elder sister, and the thawing of the heart of the latter by the arrival of two very modern nieces, formed the theme of “The Rebel,’’ a delightful little sentimental comedy. The Judge paid tribute to the work of the players, who, he said, had come a long way and had been dogged by misfortune in their rehearsals. They had persevered, and must have had their reward in the way in which their excellent rendering was received by the audience. He was particularly pleased with the attention given lo detail in the setting, which created the right “ atmopshere.” Man Destroys Man. “ The Tomb of Od,” by J. A. S. Coppard. was presented by the W.L’.A. Drama Circle, with Mr J. M. Bamford as producer and the following players:—Professor, Mr. J. M. Bamford; Assistant, Mr. H. M. Davidson; Amen. Mr. W. J. Earl; Od. Mr. D. W. Reid; Omega, Mr. H. R. Walden. With a weird setting, effective lighting, and a capable cast, this propaganda play made a vivid impression. It was a biting indictment of the utter futility of war, telling in realistic fashion of the destruction of man and the release of death and disease until the whole world was destroyed. In the beginning Od destroyed with his bow and arrow*, and at the end the death-beam brought death and destruction to all.

The judge said Mr. Coppard was a New Zealander, and for some time lived in Hamilton: lie was the most daring writer—daring from the point of view of experiment in plav-writing—New Zealand had produced. He was a prolific writer, and his work ranged from Ihe lightest, topical verse to thoughtcompelling propaganda plays. In short he was little short of a genius. Mr. Laurie said he was pleased tc see clubs tackling such worth-while plays as “ The Tomb of Od.” It was ,i wonderful effort by the W.E.A. Class, and he congratulated them on their fine work To-night’s Programme. The festival, which has been a great success, will be concluded to-night with the presentation of the following plays:—“Symphony in Illusion.” Pio Pin Drama Soe'ety; “The Maid of Domremy.” Hamilton Playbox; Act 2 of Bernard Shaw’s “ Major Barbara, ** Pio Pio Drama Society.