1968

The initiative to partake in drama began when the PEIWI promoted the Drama Festival Association after Second World War. The plays provided a diversion from the horrors of war while teaching and inspiring members to learn a new skill. Entertaining people in the

communities helped to take their minds off of sons who left the island to fight for home and

country.

A play, Frontier Women, took place with a cast of five - Silver Dennis, Orell Smallman, Susie

Smallman, Helen Adams and Joan Smallman. Frontier Woman- a synopsis:

The women who first ventured from Europe with their husbands, seeking a better life they thought they were coming to the land of milk and honey and gold. One woman wrote to her friends back home how disappointed and homesick she was. “But, we are here, and must learn to make the best of it.” They found themselves living in windowless houses, with dirt floors. They responded by dusting off their houses knowing full well they would need to do it again the next day. These rural women learned to shoot, raise chickens, plant vegetable gardens, churn milk, weave clothes and keep the home fires burning, and to raise children. It was a sharp contrast from the multi-layered petticoat- wearing women of the cities back home. They suffered wrinkled skin and chapped hands from the weather and the many, many tasks required of them-

not unlike the rural women of the Island.

The five members performed the three- act play for their February 1968 program at the regular

meeting at Mrs. Ken Smallman’s home. The master of ceremonies was Mrs. Lorraine Harris.

The Christmas meeting in December 11, 1968 was held at the home of Mrs. Wilbert Dennis. Due to the absence of the president (Mrs. James Smallman) Mrs. Robert Woodside consented to conduct the meeting. Nineteen members answered roll call with a gift for their sunshine pal, (a little gift given to another member whose name was not revealed until the following Christmas, and then they would pull a name out of a hat and start all over again for the following year.) This

new program began in 1965. Mrs. Lorne Luxton led the devotion with a prayer.

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