AUSTRALIAN PRIZE PLAY

Evening Star, Issue 18255, 20 April 1923, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN PRIZE PLAY

i SYDNEY LADY WINS. “ A WORLD PLAY,’' SAYS ASCHE. The judges in the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ hundred guinea competition, for tho best play written by an Australian announces the results, as follows: First prize (one hundred guineas'): Miss Betty Hiscocks, Waruock Hall, Bondi—‘ The Spirit of Desire.’ Second prize (twenty guineas); Mr Louis Stone, Means’ Flat, Bondi Junction— 1 Lap of the Gods.’ Third prize (ten guineas): Mr Coulsou Davidson, Niagaroon, Worngal road, Oakloigh, Victoria, and Miss Miilicent Armstrong. Amber Tea Rooms, Goulburn, bracketed equal. Miss Hiscocks in the head of the dressmaking department of the Farmer Company, Limited. MR OSCAR ASCHE’S VIEWS. It may ,be stated (says the ‘Telegraph’)* that Mr Asche paid a very flattering tribute to Miss Hiscocks (who submitted her work under the nom-de-plnme of “ Uno Jeune Fille ’-’) in that he selected another play written by her for the third prize. This was entitled ‘ How and Why it Happened.’ The other two judges, however, disagreed with Mr Asche. But the fact that this young lady—for she is only in her _ early ’twenties—should have so signally “ caught the eye ” of such an eminent actor-manager as Mr Oscar Asche is noteworthy, and would seem to indicate that'she has a bright future before her as a playwright. Here is Mr Asche’s opinion of ‘ The Spirit of Desire ’ 1 “ The writer of this play has a very remarkable imagination, and, apart from that, has quite obviously made a close study of modern stage production. 1 How and Why it Happened ’ is a play of a very different type, containing many amusing situations. I think it rather . extraordinary that I should select two plays by the same author—totally different types, though each shows the same striking imagination. “ I would describe ‘ The Spirit of Desire ’ as ‘ a world play,’ in tho sense that it might be successfully produced in London, New York, Sydney, or any other part of the world. That is one of the great merits it has. “ On the other hand, there area fewgood plays with an Australian setting which might be produced quite successfully in this country, but would have little interest for playgoers in other parts of the w'orld. u The competition, however, has shown that Australia possesses a number of able writers who should do ivell in this new field that is beino opened up for them. I am very glad that the suggestion I made was taken up by the ‘ Daily Telegraph,’ and the paper deserves the thanks of the public for opening the way to a new' and lucrative career to the talented writers of this country.” It may be added that Mr Asche has asked that copies of ‘ The Spirit of Desire ’ and ‘ Lap of the Gods ’ be forwarded to him in Perth. Later on, it is hoped, the public will have an opportunity of seeing them produced on the stage.