Over-Praise Harms Good Young Actors

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30499, 22 July 1964, Page 2

Over-Praise Harms Good Young Actors

Oxer-pratse had reduced many talented but untrained young New Zealand actors from potential artists to mere performers, said Mrs Edna Harris, of Auckland, when she arrived in Christchurch yesterday to judge the British Drama League festival here.

Mrs Harris, who took an Associate Drama Board course in London, qualifying as a drama producer. ha« been working with a small group of young Aucklanders helping them to realise their strengths and weaknesses as actors. “They accepted their limitations. helped one another and built up great strength from it,” she said. New Zealand had a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and vitality in the theatre: lit was just a matter of channelling it in the right direction. Wasted Talent “It is sad to see all this going to waste. We need to bring our own people back from overseas training to heln here." she said. “Tnev understand our way of life and our pattern and can channel our talent in this direction rather than try to change us.” New Zealand seemed to be content with second best—with “making do.” instead of aiming for the highest with the material it had Many talented young New Zealanders had been overpraised and had. consequently ceased to become artists. Regional Groups A well-known Auckland actress before she became a oroducer. Edna Harris, believes that regional drama groups are the ideal set-up for New Zealand. “At the present time it would not be practicable to

start another travelling company on such a scale as the New Zealand Players,” she said. “It is essential for actors to be thoroughly trained, otherwise they cannot stand the rigours of travel and the strain of dragging a performance from a tired emotion.” The British Drama League's festival uncovered much talent in acting and producing that would otherwise go unnoticed. she said. It also enabled actors and producers to get specialised criticism of their work. In the seven years she has been back from studying in London. Mrs Harris “has produced 10 plays and one baby.” <