Festival debate — is there any excuse for it?

Press, 6 November 1984, Page 15

Festival debate — is there any excuse for it?

•'The 1984 B.N.Z. Festival Debate, at the Regent Theatre in Dunedin, will be screened on Two at 8.30 tonight. ‘“That There is No Excuse for It” — yes honestly — tjfet is the title of the debate. The producer, Ross Johnston, says that the title v(as chosen and designed to give the speakers as much latitude as possible for selfSression. No doubt the aters will take full advantage of a title that is rife with innuendo and promises interesting interpretations. ‘'The debate has been deigned as a lighthearted evening when politicians <sn attack their media detractors with no holds tarred, and as a wonderful opportunity for the news media team to administer tjjeir unkindest cuts to their opposition who have been less than kind in their criticism of the Fourth Estate. r Last year the debate payed to a packed house, ajso at the Regent Theatre, Dunedin, when Jim Hopkins fa contender this year, too) paused a sensation by performing a slow strip,. a thinly disguised ploy ’to divert attention from the opposition. The producer sincerely hopes that such an uncouth display will be ab-

sent from this year’s proceedings. A prize last year went to Dr Brian Edwards for his spoonerisms, mainly aimed at the national M.P., Mr Norman Jones, whom he described as a “shining wit.” Jim Hopkins, Judith Fyfe and Brian Edwards front up as the Media team and M.P.S Michael Cullen, Doug Graham and Annette King represent the Parliamen-

tarians. Viewers should enjoy some of the swift uppercuts from the chairman, Bob Jones, whose task it will be to keep this unruly collection in order.

The debate was organised by Mr Michael Laws, of the Dunedin Speaking Union, and the buck stops with him because, as Ross Johnston avows, “He organised it — we just televise it.”