DOES IT PAY DEBTS?

Radio Record, 22 July 1938, Page 12

DOES IT PAY DEBTS?

SOME say there are dark and dirty secrets behind the steady success of the Dunedin Repertory Society. This article tells the truth about authors’ fees and what the Society has been doing about them.

Dunedin Repertory Success ds NOT Bust On Recalcitrance Special to the ‘"‘Record" |

by

C. H.

FORTUNE

66 EPERTORY BLUES" and authors’ dues seem the common complaint among New Zealand amateur dramatic societies lately. The dues, with blues to follow, are as "catching" as measles among Polynesian natives. But there is one group at least that stands firmly immune from the national infection. The Dunedin Repertory Society, with a membership of 1026, looks forward joyfully to long years of health. Some say, to death with the traitors! that the secret of its prosperity is that it just doesn’t pay any royalties! With magnificent success, it ignores authors. That, however, is not quite true. Certainly, few paymeuts were made until last year, but the royalties were definitely not ignored. Mostly they were paid into a special account,. as they were incurred, and held under reserve. The economics of the policy need no discussion here, but the. fact remains that by last year the society had put aside £191/2/- in fees, which were then paid in lump sum. _ Actually, therefore, the Dunedin society did’ not climb upward by bold grinding of the faces of authors. It has paid its way fairly and, what

is more, is prepared to go on paying.- In the future it has promised to. give authors’ rights’ associations no more worries, but will pay "on the nail" every time. So much ‘for the accusation ‘that the society is recalcitrant: about its debts: now let us examine thé. history: of this proeressive eroun. Tt mav

well provide useful clues for other societies which are_ just- now going through the New Zoalans species of drama-~ tic sttimp. "The, ides of forming a Repertory Society in Dunedin was conceived by Miss Bessie Thomson, later producer-in-chief, who was assisted in her campaign by Mr. A. C. Stephens. A meeting was held in her studio in 1933, and the society was.formed. Mrs. Richard Hudson was appointed president, an. office she still holds, and Mr. Stephens became. chairman, The first play presented was Noel Coward’s "I Leave It To You," produced by Mr, Reg. Tapley. Mr, Richard White, to-day probably the most outstanding amateur actor in, Dunedin, produced the second play, and Major I. H. Lampen was responsible for 4 third. The fourth, Barrie's "Near Brutus," was handled by Miss Thomson, annually appointed producer. from then on until she sailed for

London last November on leave of absence. At present she is continuing her dramatic studies in London, but is due in Dunedin at the end of the year. Barrie’s "Dear Brutus" was a triumph, establishing the society firmly in public favour. It paved the way for other fine productions, of which the most important were "Libel," "And So To Bed," ‘The Skin Game," and "Pygmalion." "Pygmalion," incidentally, saw the first use

of "real rain’ on the New Zealand amateur stage. Some of the prim and.proper raised their eyebrows at the dialogue until they realised iif was a Shaw pliy. Shaw, like fhe King, can do no wrong accord-. ing to theatre-goers. The society has now entered its sixth year, and celebrated .the event recently by presenting "Syringe Tide," delightful é

comedy of George Billam and J. B. Priestley-another addition to the society’s list of outstanding achievements. HE society presents four plays each year, mainly in His. Majesty’s ‘Theatre, but its activities are’ not restricted to public ‘performances. Social evenings are held monthly in the Town Hall Concert Chamber, where the average attendance of members and guests last year was estimated at 668. In the beginning these meetings took place in the St. Paul’s Schoolroom, but that soon proved too small. Later the King Street Tabernacle and the Women’s Club were hired, but increase in membership made necessary ihe removal to the Concert Chamber, This social side of the society’s work has done wuch to cement membership.’ Three three-act plays and 24 oneact plays were presented last year at the monthly gatherings, always followed by supper and dandcing. Outstanding event of last vear (Contd. on page 33.)

Does It Pay Debts?

DUNEDIN REPERTORY. (Continued from page 12.) was an abridged version of "Cavalcade" presented by the Social Plays Committee. This was given during Coronation ’ week, when an audience of over 900 people filled the concert chamber. ANOTHER pDranch of the society is the Drama Class, held weekly. At this class, conducted usually by the producer, youngey members are given tuition in acting and are groomed for parts in the major productions. At the Dunedin Drama League Festival in July the society entered two teams. The A team, playing "Bamiboo," produced by Mr, Drnest Griffin, won first place and a B certificate; the B team, playing "Dante and Beatrice," produced by Mr, Desmond Greenslade, ( gained third place and a B certificate. The "Bamboo" team subsequently won the South Island Elimination Yestival at Timaru, and travelled to Rotorua for the New Zealand final festival, gaining second place. The trophy given by’ Lady Sargood for the best acting performance in the Dunedin festival was won by Mr. Alex MeDowell, now of 4ZB, for his portrayal of Dante in "Dante and Beatrice." UNFORTUNATELY the society is today suffering from a lack of male members capable of taking middle-aged parts. Many a play has had to be rejected for this reason. However, Mr. Russell-Wood, who is producing in the absence of Miss Thomson, is endeavouring to develop new talent, and in "The Show," his first production, he proved his capabilities. Several new faces made an appearance in major roles. "Spring Tide’ was also the debut of several new players. JrOR all its successes, however, the Dunedin society has been very unlucky in one respect. It has lost several of its most promising members just as they were approaching dramatic maturity. Russell Napier was one loss. He went to England to try his luck on the English stage, playing second lead in T. S. Eliot’s "Murder in the Cathedral." He went with the company to New York, but the essentially English play failed to "catch on" in Broadway and it had to be withdrawn. So far, Mr. Napier has not found another role, such is the luck of the stage game. Lester Moller was proving his worth when he won a Rhodes Scholarship,and: : went off to Oxford. There he is pre~ Sident of the Brasenose Players, and recently played lead in "Libel" and "Outward Bound," produced by the Oxford University Dramatic Society. Jessie McLennan, brightest star in the repertory firmament, went to Australia for a holiday and became a radio star in Brisbane. Now she is back at home for a time; there are hopes she may be seen again in a repertory production. Among other notables who left Dunedin was Mary Jolly, who went to London, but is to return shortly. Les Pithie, delightful in character roles, hag gone to Sydney. Dick Nancarrow is on the staff of 2YC Wellington, and Doug. Dall is in Christchurch, still figuring in repertory. He is on the committee (Continued on next page).

«Cont. from previous column.) of the Christchurch society and played lead in its performance of "Wibel"which seems to be a repertory special. Just one final word about the executive which has worked so well to xsmake the society what it is to-day. Mrs, Richard Hudson has been the society's one and only president: Mr. W. R. Brugh has been chairman since 1934. Mr. A. G. Smith, an original committeeman, has been deputy-chairman for several years, and rendered yeoman service with the society’s publicity. His work gained recognition this year when he was made vice-president. Mrs. F. YT. Moller, another original member of the committee, has long played an important part on the social side. Mrs. F. Wakefield Holmes, vice-president, has done untold work for the society almost since its inception. These are some of the older hands. But the younger committee members are fired with the same characteristic zeal that has so successfully inoculated the Dunedin Repertory Society against "tepertory Blues."