Dewhursts write

~ ALF DEWHURST, Prague:
Although we (myself, Vi and
Joe) have had nothing to do
with the wonderful campaign
_ for PT funds I cannot keep
_. quiet about it. So I must write
tell you how proud we felt
_when we read the good news
_of the outstanding achieve-
ment of our party and the
aders of the paper in this
_ latest drive. Please accept our
heartiest congratulations.

We have been following the
drive results with great inter-
est for two reasons. First, be-
cause of the hard economic
_times which makes it harder
to get money. And secondly,
because there was no full-
time manager of the cam-
_ paign this year.

In respect to the last-men-
tioned reason I was in favor
of dispensing with the drive
_ manager because it places the
responsibility squarely upon
. those who raise and give the

money.

Of course, this could not be
- done unless there is, as is the
case in B.C., a long tradition
of militant support for the
working class press. °

-- J am impressed also with

OPEN FORUM

“Nothing for homes but everything for guns”

the really big economies you
have made in the production
of the paper, The amount of
the subsidy is substantially
lower than it was three years
ago. I am of the opinion that
this fact is not lost upon the-
readers who showed their ap-
preciation of the paper and of
those who produce it in such
a heart-warming fashion.

Finally, it is my opinion
that the paper has improved
this year. It has always been
lively. But of late there are
more contributors, which gives
the paper an earthiness and
closeness to the struggles and
problems of the working peo-
le.

View of future

H. V., Duncan, B.C.: As I
look through the telescope of
Marx and Lenin I can plainly
see that in the not-too-distant
future Socialism will come in
the front door in North Am-
erica and capitalism will be
thrown out the back door
onto the rubbish heap of his-
tory. :

Imperialism and _ colonial-
ism are on the way out, and
soon we’ll be able to strike up
the band and celebrate their
passing.

-. ELMER H.

‘Box 502

a CANADA DAY GREETINGS
from —

~~ Concrete Work — Ready Mix — Expert Finishing
' HANEY, B.C.

WALSKE

Haney 5-9306

Phone INgersol 3-9609

24863 Dewdney Trunk Road © WEBSTERS CORNERS

Beenie c Extends
- CANADA DAY GREETINGS TO ALL READERS

ELECTRIC

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Free Estimates

“—
\
ie

Vancouver International Festival
Preparations reach fever pitch

WITH LESS than one month

‘to go before the opening cur-

tain, organization of the sec-
ond annual Vancouver Inter-
national Festival has reached
fever pitch.

In a converted Airforce
armory on the campus of the
University of British Colum-
bia 30 dancers have learned
the intricate movements of
the ballet for the Festival
production of Gluck’s Orph-
eus and Eurydice.

Guided by New York
choreographer, Hanya Holm,
they have learned to move
with assurance over the huge
set designed for this produc-
tion, With levels rising 20 feet
into the air and appropriate
caves and pits representing
everything from Hades to the
Elysian Fields this set, de-
signed. by Donald Oenslager,
is reputed to be the most
elaborate and massive unit
ever assembled on the Pacific
coast, :

Until recently no stage in
Canada could have accom-
modated it satisfactorily. Now
the Vancouver Civic Auditor-
ium is ready and the set for
Orpheus and Eurydice will fit
comfortably on a stage 65
feet deep, with a proscenium
opening 75 feet wide—one of
the largest in North America.

Except for the organized
chaos in the Festival offices,
the Vancouver Civic Auditor-
ium is the busiest place of all.
While technicians and work-
men make last minute adjust-
ments to lighting and acous-
tics, officials tour the prem-
ises.

Down in the depths of the
Auditorium dressing rooms
are being readied for their

first occupants, In the five

weeks of the Festival 120
polished mirrors will reflect
the countenances of some of
the world’s greatest artists:
Herbert von Karajan, Bruno
Walter, Elisabeth Schwarz-
Kopf, Betty-Jean Hagen, Zara
Nelsova, Kerstin Meyer, Mary
Costa, the flamboyant make-
up and costumes of the Xi-
menez-Vargas Spanish Dan-
cers and the exotic attire of
the 40 girls in the Japanese
Takarazuka Dance Thetre.

Engineers are testing the
hydraulic apron stage now. It
must lift the 80-piece Festival
Orchestra into view on open-
ing night and many nights
thereafter. Up the aisles and
out in the spacious lobbies
workmen are laying carpets,
painting and polishing for the
big day.

In the Festival offices on
the sixteenth floor of the
Hotel Vancouver the details
being channeled through the
various departments stagger
the imagination; Harry Bel-

afonte, latecomer to the Fes-
tival, must be fitted smoothly
into the programme pattern;
6,000 tickets to be printed for
his July 29 appearance; press
releases to be issued; hospi-
tality to be organized.
Notification that Viveca
Lindfors, co-star in the Fes-
tival play Mary. Stuart, is
arriving on June 17 together
with husband, secretary,

sea) @ SRR eres Recs ae Sees

HARRY BELAFONTE
nurse, four, children and
friend, Arrange for press cov-
evage; make certain the house
is ready; inform the welcom-
ing committee.

A crisis arises; volunteers
gathering special props for
window displays need four
male dummies in ‘tuxedos;
situation impossible—all male

dummies in town are being
used; will female dummies
do?

A call from a local news-
paper; is it true that Anna
Russell will not be perform-
ing new material in the Fes-
tival? Answer — she will be
doing at least one new major
number, a take off on the
modern Metropolitan Opera
success Wozzeck by Alban
Berg; supposed to be hilari-
ous.

A report on out of town
Festival enquiry — 182 cities
and towns heard from; an av-
erage of 200 new enquiries
coming in every day, many of
them expressing concern over
accommodation. A reply’ to
these states “. . . ample ac-
commodation. We advise you
to book early to secure exact-
ly what you want.”

Who are coming? Any in-
teresting names among the

‘visitors? “Yes!” say Festival

officials. “Everyone from the
Queen and Prince Phillip to
an ailing gentleman in Bos-
ton who hopes there is a good
doctor near Vancouver; at
least fifteen drama and music
critics and many more to be
heard from.

It will be like this until the
curtain rises on July 11 and
then the pace will iricrease.
The ‘performance being enact-
ed now by Festival staff and
volunteers has to be seen to
be appreciated. Too bad it
can’t be on the program!

‘

Labor poets organize,

seek more

A NUMBER of Vancouver
amateur poets who share a
progressive outlook banded
together, last February, to
form the Labor Poets Work-
shop.

- This group styles itself an
“action committee composed
of writers in verse, dedicated
to the dévelopment of the
content — and the concept —
of labor poetry.” It believes
that the future for labor and
for culture must be one in
whieh they are united, in a
socialist Canada independent
and at peace. LPW- members
devote their writings to. this
end. “If a talent, then a
weapon, and a responsibility.”

Members are beginning to —

submit poems, as many of
which as possible have been
“workshopped,” to the labor
press, ethnic~ and literary
journals, A record is kept of
poems printed, as well as of
those workshopped. Sample
journals are displayed at LPW
monthly meetings, and lists of
these and of B.C.’ poetry in

members

book form are available, A
study program will be begun
next session. This activity has

stimulated members to in-
crease and improve their
writing.

The LWP believes and will
advocate that poetry—simple,
moving people’s poetry
merits a much larger and
more interesting audience, and
that the audience’ in turn
needs such poetry: The LPW
asks for the critical encour-
agement of poets by editors
and readers.

It hopes that the concept of
dramatic recital, long estab-
lished in socialist countries,
will develop here, with poems
read at public meetings, and -
at poetry evenings. The
Workshop urges workers in

other literary trades to fol-

low its example. It wants to.
hear from out-of-town labor
poets, who should write to
-LPW Secretary Mrs, Elaine
Billstrom, 2150 .Adanac St.,

_ Vancouver, B.C. Re
June 26, 1959 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE 7