‘Booma’ booster keeps smiling

Press, 6 July 1977, Page 19

‘Booma’ booster keeps smiling

By

ROBIN TURKEL

It is pretty hard to smile when you have just been kicked in the teeth. But Bryan Easte is a brave man.

Any lingering hopes ol using the bright, fresh pool of talent created for “Top of the World” in a lowerbudget package had just been dashed. There was the head of South Pacific Television’s light entertainment, trying to be cheerful about the new “Booma,” which may well be his only “major” effort the rest of the year. The irony was not lost on him: a building block for talent that would have nowhere to go on television.

“We could have used two doezn of last year’s hundred ‘Booma’ acts professionally if we’d had vehicles for them,” said Jillian Ewart, who produced and directed the under 13s’ talent quest then.

The same budget cutback that caused “Top of the World” to be scrapped and discouraged any successors will lead Easte himself to produce this year’s “Booma,” with Maureen Andrew, late of

“One to Three with Blackie,” as director.

“ ‘Booma’ will be visually more exciting this year,” said Easte. “We're using our animated network kiwi, and we’re working up a couple of other gimmicks.”

John Collingwood-Smith, one of the most efferverscent of the “Top of the World” singer-dancers will be the host. He will replace Laurie Dee, who has nothing at the moment now that his job as No. 2 man to the Telethon organiser, Don Hutchings, is over. Easte is impressed by Collingwood-Smith, a personable 23-year-ald who arrived 12 months ago from Brisbane, and who has an eight-year professional background, mostly in small theatre groups. Auditions are being held now for 72 acts for 13 half-hour programmes, which will be screened on Saturdays at 5.30 p.m. The first will be on September 24.

Children who write in for them must be aged 12 or under, and their letters must contain a parent’s signature.

“We decided this year that we would judge from all the centres, with regional panels and a national panel of children. Any child who wants to be a judge should write to me, and tell me why in 25 words or less.”

It is risky to have children judging children. But Easte says—and perhaps hopes—that it will work.