WITH THE AMATEURS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21230, 28 September 1940, Page 13

WITH THE AMATEURS

BERNARD SHAW “DATED” STIMULATION IN HAMILTON “You Never Can Tell,” staged in Hamilton this week, proved again how “dated” is much of Bernard Shaw’s work. Things which would have jolted people in Queen Victoria’s day have little significance now, and the play, to be really effective, needs to be played in Victorian costumes. Can you imagine anyone being shocked at the sight of two young people wearing Columbine and Harlequin costumes respectively, or a father in the background being lecessary to assure respectability? Much of Shaw is very mid-Victorian. A note on the programme regardng the merits of Bernard Shaw will ause argument. While agreeing as o his brilliance in many ways, there l no doubt that much of his writing boring and unconvincing to the lodern mind, while his efforts to lock people often fail to achieve heir purpose when seen in the right

perspective. I Congratulations to the Hamilton Playbox on the good job it made of “You Never Can Tell.” Stimulating Experience in Hamilton One of my most stimulating experiences in Hamilton was the production last year of Clifford Odets’ play, “Till the Day I Die,” by a band of amateurs making no claims to great histrionic ability, but filled with a great enthusiasm and a great sincerity. As a result of that enthusiasm and sincerity, and because they had a play which they could “bite into,” a play that dealt, sometimes crudely but always forcefully, with modern conditions and modem problems, they made “Till the Day I Die” very real. It is, therefore, gratifying to find that we are to have another Odets play, “Golden Boy,” by the same people, and I am looking forward eagerly to its rehearsals and production within the next few weeks. They have given a great contribution to the art of the drama, not merely as entertainment but as something real and developmental I hope they will never go “arty,” or begin staging old plays of which everyone has tired. By the way, it was stated on this page last week that “Golden Boy” is to be produced by the Left Club. That is not so. The organisation known as The People’s Theatre has nc connection with any political association, being concerned solely with the fostering of significant modern drama in the Waikato. The producer is Mr Ronald H. Meek.

“Babes in the Wood’.’ in Hamilton Another grand pantomime produced by Miss Ailsa Docherty will be staged by her pupils at the Theatre Royal, on Monday, November 11. There will be 80 performers, displaying all classes of dancing, latest songs and many original ballets. This pantomime will also be staged at the Cambridge Town Hall on