Drama Disaster

With ten days till Easter Tournament the producer of the Tournament play, "Electra", by Sophocles, has been informed that Virginia Todd is not available for Tournament through illness. Virginia, well known in Wellington Drama, was to have played the exacting role of Electra in this Greek play. Courageously, Heather Scott (producer), considered playing the part herself. She has had considerable experience with Tournament drama, having played the lead in Maurios "The Art of Being Happily Married" and in 1956 in the "Cat on the Hot Tin Roof", as well as appearing often with the V.U.W.D.C. But it can be well understood that to attempt taking over the lead in a difficult play such as this would be more than could be expected of anyone, leave alone the producer, who has full committments as a French Honours student.

Incidentally A.U.C. has withdrawn from Tournament due to the fact that their players-are engaged in the production of their major play for 1958. Because of Vic's major production otherwise eligible players are not available for the part of Electra. So drama at Easter Tournament is being tried for the first time with only two of the four Universities competing. Gone will be the tradition of attending Tournament drama by all Tournament participants.

Whether, as a result of this fiasco, drama will be returned to Winter Tournament, where it belongs, or be relegated to the proposed Arts Festival and be deleted from the list of tournament activities, remains to be seen. If the reversion to Winter Tournament is unacceptable, then I think, the retention of drama at Easter is desirable, if only because it gives an opportunity to younger promising members to perform under the eyes of as critical an audience as will be encountered at University. However, the disadvantages of producing a play in the very limited time before Easter with a relatively inexperienced cast are as obvious as they are difficult to overcome.