THE COMPETITIONS

Evening Star, Issue 23657, 17 August 1940, Page 15

THE COMPETITIONS

FESTIVAL STARTS ON WEDNESDAY SOCIETY'S RECORD MAINTAINED DECISION TO CARRY ON A NOBLE ONE Next Wednesday, at 10 a.m., the thirty-ninth annual festival of the Dunedin Competitions Society begins: That is a simple statement, not on the surface disclosing anything particularly noteworthy, yet» the fact is indisputable that the society is showing considerable courage under the present circumstances in staging the 1940 festival just as it has done festivals for the past 38 years. In the last two years the society has faced losses, and the possibility of greater loss in a year in which war is raging and taxation is high could not be ignored, but nonetheless the so-

ciety, iprond of its unbroken record—it is the only society in New Zealand which has continued without interruption duo to economic or Great War pressure—decided to carry on. But that was only one consideration which turned the scales when it was freely discussed whether the competitions should be held or not. The society feels that it has a responsibility to the public, particularly to the younger people, who are given an opportunity of showing; their mettle against the best the city has to offer in the different classes from the tiny tot to the grown adult. In the past nearly all who have to-day reached any worthwhile point in the local world of entertainment or musical or elocutionary tuition found their feet as_a result of the competitions. Several New Zealanders whose names to-day stand for something in the overseas musical or theatrical stage likewise were led into the paths of fame because of the competitiops. Many indeed are those who have graduated from the competitions hall.

Finally, there was the thought that by staging the competitions tjie younger members -of the community might have their minds at least temporarily removed from an atmosphere of war, present, even if unconsciously, in most homes these days, as ever-in-creasing air raids create anxiety for friends and relatives in the Mother Country. ENTRIES ARE GOOD. So the society decided to carry on, knowing that whatever may he the financial outcome something will have been done in the _ interests of those whose talent is being developed, and that some bright entertainment will have been offered the public as an antidote to worries.

The losses of the last two years necessarily meant a revision of policy this year. Accordingly, prize money has been fairly sharply cut, and the majority of winners in the smaller classes will be rewarded by certificates. This applies particularly to all but the scholarship classes in the juvenile sections, but despite this the children's entries are as good as ever they have been. In that fact the society has earned one reward for its courage in staging the competitions. It has proved that, from the competitive point of view, the society’s work is very greatly appreciated. Further, it is proved that it is not the mere monetary prize that attracts entries, and those who have argued that that has

been tbo principal magnet in tho past must be silenced. This year’s entries arc approximately 1,230, which represents a drop of 170 •on last year. That later figure is mainly made up by the depletion of young men, who are considerably loss conspicuous among this year’s contestants. That could hardly have been otherwise in view of the numbers who are away overseas or are in camp. As a result of the drop in male entries tho impromptu speeches and debates have had to be eliminated. Otherwise the support accorded the numerous sections has been much about the same as last year.

Particularly strong support has boon given tho dancing classes, while children’s choruses and group tuition sections have also attracted good entries. Fourteen contestants will bo heard in the popular Gilbert and Sullivan class, but, as was the case last _ year, the grand opera section is missing. Good entries have been forthcoming from tho big classes—the chief piano solo contest for the Mollcr Trophy, and the vocal contest for the Barling Hose Bowl. Other important features' will be the Begg Shield award for the highest marks in the test selections and tho special prize in the Shakespearean sections. SPECIAL FEATURES. The nightly programmes in His Majesty’s Theatre have been drawn up to be as attractive as possible to the audiences, and variety has been well distributed. To vary the element of competition, special ballet performances will bo given on several evenings, these being staged by the Dunedin Operatic Society’, while on Monday, the 26th. and the Tuesday, Wednesday, and

Thursday following spectacular calisthenic displays will be presented by the staffs of leading business houses. On Thursday, the 29th, a special attraction in the form of a one-act play, ‘ Martha and Mary,’ will be given under the »gis of the Dunedin Repertory Society. Production will be in the hands of Miss Kathleen Falconer. THE JUDGES. The judges for the season are all well known, having officiated between 1936 and now. Mr Victor Peters (Christchurch) will judge the vocal sections, Mr F. W. Bailey (Auckland) the elocution classes, Dr T. Vernon Griffiths the instrumental classes, and Miss Betty Carnohan (Christchurch) the dancing sections. The accompanist will bo Miss Sybil Baker, whose work in this direction has been highly praised by Trinity College judges in the past, and Mrs Y.ule will be the assistant accompanist. Arrangements are once again in the hands of Mr E. S. Wilson, who has occupied the position of secretary since 1907 and has been associated with the society since 1904. The festival will be officially opened by the mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday. During the day sessions the Concert Chamber, Victoria Hall, and His Majesty’s Theatre will be in use, all nightly performances being given in His Majesty’s.