AMATEUR DRAMA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 208, 4 September 1933, Page 3

AMATEUR DRAMA.

WEEK'S FESTIVAL ENDS. WIXXERS OF THE AWARDS. At the end on Saturday evening of a weckV highly successful festival of community drama—the first to have been held in Auckland—Miss Elizabeth Blake, the adjudicator, summed up her advice to amateur players in an admonition to speak more loudly and distinctly. The festival, held under the auspices of the Auckland area of the Xew Zealand branch of the British Drama League, had produced, said Miss Blake, work that ranged from poor to really good. While she recommended producers not to cheapen farce by lowering it to comedy, or drama to melodrama, she heartily congratulated them on their efforts, having regard to the imposition of the time limit. The St. Andrew's Players opened Saturday evening's programme with the Corrie play, "The Hoose on the Hill/' presented with an excellent finish. For this reason it was undoubtedly one of the successes of the festival. The last act of the Bernard Shaw comedy, "The Philanderers," was staged by the Playhouse Players. This production showed solid rehearsing, and amounted to a great improvement on the club's earlier presentation of the play. The third play 'to be staged on Saturday evening was the Penwomen's Club's "The Turncoat Politician," which was fitting for the conclusion of the festival. Awards were as follow: —The "Herald" trophy, for the best production of a oneact play. Elam Dramatic Club ("The Sisters' Tragedy"). Trophy presented to the runner-up by the Auckland University College Student* , Association, The Georgian Readers ("Ghosts pn Christinas Eve"). The "New Zealand Mirror" Cup, for best original play, Mabel Brackenbury Latter ("Ghosts on Christmas Eve). Prize offered by the Playlovcrs' Club, in the juvenile play-writing competition, Lorna Finlayson. B certificates (75 per cent marks and over) were awarded to the Elam Dramatic Club ("The Sisters' Tragedy") and the Georgian Readers ("Ghosts on Christmas Eve" and "Challenge"). C certificates (C 5 to 75 per cent) were awarded to the following: Grecnhitbe Women's Institute, Piopio Dramatic Club, Lyceum Dramatic Circle, Auckland Girls' Grammar School Dramatic Club, St. George's Dramatic Club, the St. Andrew's Players, the Playhouse Club and the Penwomen's Club. D certificates (50 to 05 per cent) were awarded to the Avon Circle, St. George's Dramatic Club, the Writers' Club, and the Victoria League Entertainment Circle.