Evening Paper, the (1965)

Play by Bruce Mason, the first three act play broadcast by the NZBC, about a family ruled by a possessive, dominating wife and mother.

Cast:

Jack Mense (Ernest)
Eiieen Teward (Elfrida)
Peter Vere-Jones (Philip)
Josephine Knight (Winsome)

Mason entered a one act play with the same title to a playwriting competition sponsored throughout New Zealand by the British Drama League in 1954. He took the first prize in the New Zealand section. (Press, 11 September 1954, Page 2)

Obscene Letters To Playwright

(New Zealand Press Association) July 1 1965

Bruce Mason; author of the play, The Evening Newspaper, recently produced on television, has received about 30 obscene and anonymous letters since the play was shown.

One of them offered to subscribe to any fund for my deportation, said Mr Mason, who arrived in Hamilton to spend the week judging British Drama League plays.

This reaction to his play is typical of a provincial society—unsure of itself. said Mr Mason. The Evening Newspaper was written in 1953, he said. It is an interesting study of a neurotic family, but it was never meant to be typical of New Zealand, although probably does reflect some attitudes, he said. However, he believed the recent production over-emphasised the characters and the play was distorted. The play was An Apprentice Piece, and he is now working on his twentieth play.