| Dominion Drama Festival |
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| Season 35 |
| Apr 26 to May 1, 1948 |
This national theatre festival which originated at the Little Theatre in 1933 and took place here for its first five years, returned in 1948 for the first time since 1937.
Fourteen plays were selected from 72 productions seen by the regional adjudicator Robert Stuart at regional drama festivals across Canada.
The Ottawa Drama League entries were "Papa Is All" which opened the festival on April 26 (for cast and crew see Feb. 11, 1948); and "Eros at Breakfast" performed by the ODL Workshop with one other play at the May 1 matinee (for cast and crew see Jan. 22, 1948).
Adjudicator Robert Speaight awarded the top prize of the Bessborough Trophy to London Little Theatre's production of "St. Joan", but the ODL's "Papa Is All" won the Festival Plaque for Best English Play exclusive of the trophy-winner, and Jessie Pitkethly and Bert Adkins won acting honorable mentions for their performances.
"Eros at Breakfast" won the Barry Jackson Trophy for the best production of a Canadian play. It was sole contender for the prize, but regional adjudicator Robert Stuart awarded its author Robertson Davies a special $100 prize for the best written Canadian play of the 13 entries he viewed during his tour of the Dominion.
Full Schedule:
April 26, the Ottawa Drama League in "Papa Is All" by Patterson Greene;
April 27, the Vancouver Little Theatre Association in "The Silver Cord" by Sydney Howard;
April 28 (mat), the Theatre Guild of Saint John in "Boccado's Untold Tale" by Harry Kemp; Cercle Moliere, St Boniface, in "La Donation", by Gabriel d'Hervillez; Little Theatre Club of Saskatoon in "The Rose" by Eugene O'Neill.
April 28 (eve), Workshop 14, Calgary, in "Maitre Pierre Patelin" by Richard Holbrook; University of Manitoba in "John Doe" by Bernard Dryer; Le Caveau, Ottawa, in "Le Legataire Universal" by Regnard.
April 29, London Little Theatre in "Saint Joan" by George Bernard Shaw.
April 30, Les Compagnons, Montreal, in "Antigone" by Jean Anouilh; University Alumnae Dramatic Club, Toronto, in "Years Ago", by Ruth Gordon.
May 1 (mat), Edmonton Community Theatre in "Victoria Regina" by Laurence Housman; Ottawa Drama League Workshop in "Eros at Breakfast" by Robertson Davies
May 1, (even), Montreal Repertory Theatre in "Barretts of Wimpole Street" by Rudolf Besler
| Cast |
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