Dramatic Club

Owing to the fact that rehearsals for the Capping Revues occupy the greater part of the first term after the Annual General Meetings have taken place, the activities of the Dramatic Club are necessarily limited to the middle term and half of the last term. In view of this fact, the committee has attempted to make each reading a rehearsed one, well-produced and well read, fully realising that only in this way can the interest of the students be maintained.

At the first reading of the year, "Somebody Knows," by van Druten, a large and appreciative audience rewarded the work of Mr. D. G. Edwards, producer, and his cast. Other readings during the year included the ever-popular "Canaries Sometimes Sing," by Lonsdale, ably produced by Miss Davidson, who arranged a particularly good stage: two one-act plays, "In the Zone" and "So Good" both produced under the capable direction of Miss Z. Jupp. This reading was followed by supper, and later a dance, at which the necessary music was excellently supplied by Mr. W. W. Mason. A very popular reading was "There's Always Juliet," another van Druten play produced by Mr. R. B. Phillips. This reading was carefully rehearsed, and a small cast made the most of a very witty dialogue. Naturally, the chief activity of the Club's year is the annual town production where the genius fostered in our midst is loosed upon an unsuspecting public. This year the choice of play by the committee, "Musical Chairs," by Ronald Mackenzie proved to be particularly happy. A detailed report of the production will be found elsewhere in this issue, and it only remains to thank all those, especially Mr. R. Hogg, the producer, and the cast, who so willingly devoted their time and energy towards making the play the success it was, financially and otherwise.

Time and trouble were taken to make the entries in the recent British Drama League Festival worthy of the past traditions of the Club. Two teams were entered, one playing "Poet's Corner," by Mary Pakington, produced by Miss Jupp, and the other "God Made Two Trees," a play by a V.U.C. student, Miss Law Levy, and produced by Mr. W, J. Mountjoy, Jr. Both efforts were eminently successful, Miss Levy winning the trophy for the best play produced at the Festival written by a New Zealand author, while the other entry, "Poet's Comer" received honourable mention and gained a C certificate with the high marks of 70 per

Efforts have been made this year to interest new-comers in the Club's activities, and with this in view, a series of Freshers' Readings, undertaken by Miss Toss-man and Mr. Phillips, were organised early in the second term. Promising talent was discovered and as a result of these trials, at least one person was found who could be placed straight into the town production.

In view of the success of the year's work, it may be claimed fairly that the Club has succeeded :n carrying out the best traditions of former years by endeavouring to maintain a high standard in both acting and production

The Varsity production for the year will be Shaw's "Candida," to be produced by Mr. Mountjoy, and presented in the Gym in the third term.