FEBRUARY 6, 1952

PAGE NINE

GUARDIAN, CHARLOTTETOWN

l)ecade Ago

Beginning Of DDF

The Dominion Drama Festival i'..lS founded by His Excellency the Right Honourable the Earl of aessborough in 1932 and since that liillti has been honoured in having each succeeding Governor-General of Canada as its patron. At the pl'PSClli. time the Honorary Presi- Ilriit is our incoming Vice Regal xrlrl'CSClliBiiVe the Right Honour- able Vincent Massey. Its aims and objects are "To encourage dramatic n:'l in Canada by the holding of s Dnnlinlon Drama Festival and such regional or other subsidiary festiv- .1c as may be deemed advisable. ml 13' the granting of prizes and aunlils for distinctive efforts in

any nf the arts relating to drama,

JU-STICE H. L. PALMER

including the writing of plays. their presentation, mounting. cos- tizmlng and lighting."

The Dominion Drama Festival Board of Governors incorporated hv Royal Charter in 1935 repre- seals in its membership all the Provinces of Canada and includes from Prince Edward Island our Lieutenant-Govemor His Honour T. W. L. Prowse. Mr. J.A. Lawson, and Mr. Justice Palmer.

The Board divided Canada into II number of regions each holding an annual Festival with some per- son outstanding in; the dramatic field chosen to adjudicate in the wmous regions in turn. The re- spcctive regional winning groups urre then invited to compete in

-with "Nocturne". an original play

Saw T

..a . ies. More recently the invitation to the finals has been extended to the eight entrants considered the best across Canada regardless of whlgther a Regional winner or not.

Ie adjudicators must be bi- lingual to enable them to Judge the French speaking with the oth- er entries. Most of those qualified in Canada are too intimately con- nected wlth the work of the D.D.F. in one or other of the regions to be eligible to adjudicate and it is usually difficult to attain an Am- erican bi-linguist. Largely forthese reasons the Board of Governors has each year with few exceptions selected Englishmen for their ad- judicators-although last year Mr. Jose Ruben of New York was their selection as adjudicator for the fin- als.

Charlottetown through its Little Theatre Guild has had marked success in the five or six years it put entries in the Festivals.

In its first competition against five New Brunswick entries in 1936 the Guild won second place "with "Circumstantial Evidence" directed by Mrs. Ruby Houle. C.D.A. The following year at Saint John the Guild was the Regional winner

by Harry Foster Jr. of Charlotte- town. In 1939 the Guild again as the Regional winner went on to the finals at London, (mtario with "It's Autumn Now", directed by Mr. J. A. Lawson.

During the war years the Festi- val competitions were suspended and on their resumption some changes were made. Prince Ed- ward Island in 1950 was given the status of a separate region. one of twelve (now thirteen to include Newfoundland) across Canada, and competition was limited to full length plays. .

However our Little Theatre Guild met the new situation and last year it's "Papa is All" directed by Mrs. Vera Miliar was one of the eight selected to play in the finals at London. Ontario. out of over sixty entries throughout the Do- minion. When it is considered that our Guild members have never had professional directors nor, except for a few days in each of the last two years, any professional train- ing. both Charlottetown and our Province have reason to be proud of the achievements of their ent- rants in the Dominion Drama Fes- tivals. '

This year's Regional Adjudicator is Mr Pierre Lefevre of London. England. who has had a noted on- reer not only in the dramatic field but also in serving with the

an all-Canada Final Festival held annually in one of our larger cit-

OMINION DRAMA FESTIVAL

February in h, 1952

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His Honour Lt.-Governor '1'. W. City of New York in 1914, of French L. Plrowse has mI:tt:)rIme;Itfd Lime parents. At the age of nine, he left Wm "8 P7959" n ” mi” ?, the U. S. A. to make his home in :hi;3l':w5(E'u”d M cmrlouem "1 England. He was educated at the uwe an very pleued mu Pm,” Lycee Francais in London and sub- Edward Island is one of the Rn- ” d ;d 1 th U 1. gions for competition in the Do- ; irneuawenh rzmdegfee nm minion Drama Festival and con- i slder that Regional Festivals held philosophy. His first professional stage ap- pearance was in Michel St. Denls'

in our Province merit the fullest support of our people so that we may continue to compete with production of Cocteau-5 i.Anug,meu other Provinces of Canada in the which was performed in French at the institute Francais in London: it decided him to train for the

Art of Drama. "The fact that a P.E.I. produc- stage under St. Denis at the Lon- don Theatre Studio.

tion was chosen as one of the best

eight plays. produced across Can- on completion of his training. his first job was at the Old Vic

ada last year. is very significant. "We are pleased to welcome to our Province this year the Adjudi- under the artistic direction of Ty- Gator 0! Regional Fesma1s' ML rone Guthrie. Small parts in vari- ous London West End shows foi- lowcd and the organization of a

Pierre Lefevre of London, Eng-

land." company of young actors known as the London Village Players. This group toured the country in their own truck during summer months. As he had served iII the French Army from 1982-4 he was recalled in September 1939. He was caught in the retreat of May 1940 but managed to join a. Polish division. and. disguised as a Pole. escaped in the "Arandor Star" in a. British convoy from St. Joan dc Luz. De- mobillzed by the French Consul- ate, he joined a group of journal- ists organized Iinder Michel Si. Denis by the BBC. to make daily broadcasts in France. Then, he trained as B.E.C. war correspond- ent (with Giliard. Dimbleby Mac- Pherson and Maxtedr. landed in Normandy on D. plus 12 and re- mained overseas until Christmas i944.

Returning to the English stage in tlIe.summer of 1946, he played the role of ltloysha in Alec Guin- ness' version of ”The Brothers Karamazov". He had already. while in France. discussed the for- mation of the Old Vic School and Theatre Centre with Michel St. Denis, Glen Byam Shaw and Genius Dcvine. He remained as Shaw's assistant for two years. planning the school, teaching and producing. He then joined the Young Vic Company as touring actor-manager. remaining with it

"I may say that the Gnvcrmriciit of Prince Edward Island is pro- moting and assisting in the main- tenance of the P. E. 1'. Drama Fess lIval." stated Hon. J. Walter Jones. Premier. in it communica- tion to the local committee rc- cently.

E. 1. Drama Festival is not to be confused with the P. ELI. Rezionai Festival of the Dominion Drama Festival. We assisted the lattrr last year when they competed in the finals in London. Ontario.

"We believe that the Regional Festival should receive the fullest support of the Prince Edward Is- land public. One dramatic group. as least. has been able to hold its own with others throughout Can- ada. and it is our hope that more and more dramatic groups. now competing in the Drama Festival. will be able to take part in the Dominion Drama competition.

”I wish you would extend the best wishes of the Government of Prince Edward Island to the P.E.I. Regional Festival for further suc- cesses this year."

Mayor J. D. Stewart. has written the P. E 1. Committee of the Re- Iz.ona1 Drama Festival of the D.D. F. as follows:

"I am pleased that to date. our City has been chosen as the site for P. E. I. Regional Festivals of

Etta Bell as Lucy; Florlne I-Jvans as Ellen and Nvllin liugiics as Leonoga. Owing to the unfortunate illness of Mr. A1:u-(,:I-egnr the role of Albert is being played by ll. Barry Btigdcn.

lhliudicator

Cast of "Ladies in Retirement", pictured above. are as follows: Left to right. lphegcnic Arscnault as Sister 'l'heresn: Joan Giddin as F.miIy; l-Zriv Mm-Gregor as Albert; Elizalieth Wiilcit as Louisa:

Director This Year's Presentation

"Ladies In Retirement". the thrilling comedy drama by Edward Percy and Reginald Denham. which is the Little Theatre Gulldis entry this year in the Regional Festival. is one of this enterprising organ- izationls most ambitious undertak- ings to date.

Chosen for its intense dramatic momenm. contrasted with the high comedy of the two rather patlisiic and "potty" sisters. ii. is a story of England in the year 1885. CostIrm- ing for that era has been extreme- ly well carried out. using authentic clothes of the period. The stage crew also have been most success- .

icide whether she owes her loyalty and affection to them, or whether it should go to a woman of loose character who has been good to her. '

She makes up her mind, but in the final scene realizes that the law of God is the only real key to the difference between right and wrong.

P.E.l. Gomniiitee

The Prince Edward Island Com-

fui in copying the interior of an mil-tee 0f U18 Regional Dfilma 1783- for two seasons and being in Dominion Drama. Festival, and old English home. and have built tival of the D.D.F. includes: charge of the company durlnr: that i-110 TITOGUCHOH 07 the T-AWE II; on the 1om1 stage during the Chairman-Justice H. L. Palmer. tours to Holland. Belgium and Theatre Guild of Charlottetown

was chosen as one of the best eight plays. produced across Can- ada. last year.

"May the Charlottetown entry. this year. meet with equal or greater achievement and the P.E.l. Regional Festival be a. complete success."

Vice-Chairman and Publicity-J. A. Lawson.

Secretary-Lillian M. Duchemin.

Business Manager-Morton Dew.

Stage Manager-Fred Pound.

Reception-Mabel Adams.

Entertainment-Mrs. Benj. Rog- ers Jr., and Mrs. Gordon White.

Scandinavia. During 1950-1 he was a member of the Old Vic Company for its first season in the rebuilt theatre in Waterloo Road. He is married and has a daughter and son. For his services during the war. he was awarded "in Rosette dc l'Ordre de la Liberation".

past few weeks.

With a cast of six women and one man. the story is of the strug- gle ln one woman's heart, aIId her own decision as to what is wrong or right in this world. I-iavinz spent her life caring for her two unfortunate sisters. she must de-

PIERRE LEFEVRE

R. BARRY BUGDEN

P. E. I. REGIONAL FESTIVALOF

EMPIRE THEATRE

Curtain at 7:30 p. m. The liiile Theaire Guild of Charloiieiown

Presents ”

"LADIES IN RETIREMENT”

Directed by H. Barry Bugden Adiudicaior-Pierre lefevre of London. England Admission 75c T Tickets on sale of Hughes.Drug”"Co. and. Abegweil Giff Couri

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FRESENI REGIONAL PLT'””Y HERE

He further stated that "'I'lII: P.