FESTIVAL OF DRAMA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 30 July 1937, Page 11

FESTIVAL OF DRAMA.

WOMEN'S INSTITUTES. FURTHER PRESENTATIONS/ The second evening of the Festival of Drama being conducted in Palmerston North by the North Wellington Federation of Women’s Institutes attracted an even larger audience last night than for the initial session, five further plays being presented in addition to two glees by the Halcombe team and another demonstration of folk dancing by Milson. The glee singing competition, .an -innovation this year, Was concluded and the judge, Mrs W. Sandilands, of Feikling, announced the awards, placing Halcombe first and second and Milson second and third. She commended the institute movement on fostering the singing, which, she hoped, would be taken up more enthusiastically by other branches next year. With reference to the folk-dancing Mrs Sandilands expressed regret that there had been no competition, but she congratulated the Milson branch on its performances. Glee singing, too. was a feature which could well be taken up by institutes. Mrs F. Murphy, the Milson pianist, received a special word of praise. The five plays were particularly well presented and as the series continues it would seem that the task of the judge, Miss E. Loe, of the British Drama league, becomes more difficult.

Last evening’s entries were:— -Tj Arakura. —“The Waxen Man” (Max Reynolds). Cast: Mrs J. Lucas (Alison), Mrs F. Packwood (Joe), Mrs E. Haytliorne (coastguard). Producer, Miss M. Cranston.

Rangiotu.—“The Great Dark” (D. Totheroh). Cast: Mrs E. Beard (Mrs Melling), Mrs S. Pearce (Mrs Lomax), Mrs Attwood (Mrs Greenhaghi), Miss M. Arlidge (Mrs Ryan), Mrs E. Russell (Mrs Yates), Miss M. Feist (Rachel Clegg). Producer, Mrs S. T. Bristow. Oliakca.—“A Marriage Has Been Disarranged” (Muriel and Sydney Box). Cast: Mrs Frecklington (Mrs Barlow), Mrs Robinson (Ellie Freeman), Miss E. Mullin (Ida Sewell), Miss I. Eiiery (Adelaide Holt), Miss E. Simpson (Mildred Sykes), Miss I. Matthews (a stranger), Mrs J. Ellery (Clarice Holmes). Producer, Mrs R. Scott. Milson—“The Person Responsible” (F. Morton Howard). Cast: Mrs White (Martha), Mrs Dymock (Susan Ramsden), Mrs Graham (Mrs Todd), Mrs W. M. Huntington (Emily Hibbins). Producer, Miss B. Rodgers. Foxton.—Trial Scene from “Merchant of Venice” (Shakespeare). Cast: Mrs W. M. Thomas (Sliylock), Miss Ula Thomson (Portia), Mrs D. R. Barron (the Duke), Mrs W. Byme (Antonio), Miss O. Harkness (Bassanio), Miss Joan Barron (Gratiano), Miss Betty Crawford (Sabrio). Producer, Miss D. Pillar: The festival concludes to-night, when the awards.will be announced and the trophies presented.