COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 July 1939, Page 14

COMPETITIONS FESTIVAL.

[TO the editor.] p,ir,—| note with interest that the Competitions are to be held! again in the near future, and with that in view, I. am writing; this letter to bring forward several pointsi in connection with last year’s' Festival, which if put into effect would, 1 feel sure, be an undoubted improvement. Firstly, let me say that I am not entirely ignorant as to the difficulties- that must obviously arise in the running of Competitions, as it is always impossible to please everybody concerned. I have followed the Festivals with considerable interest as- long as I have been resident in Greymouth, and now have children competing in the various sections. The remarks- 1 want to- put forward are made in the friendliest spirit, to a -committee which 1 am sure will be amenable to sensible' suggestions.

My first point is this: It was for the first time, last year, that the committee introduced the new idea of making the evening programme only the prize winners from the sections judged during the daytime, these sections all being “sudden death,”- thus doihg away with the time-honoured method used in all other Societies of standing, that of hearing during the evening the usual two or three competitors recalled from their various classes heard in the day sessions. The evening programme last year developed into a straight-out concert. This is- no doulbt entertaining for a couple of nights, but when the concerts stretch out over a week, to be topped by the demonstration concerts at the end of the Festival, the idea is apt to pall even to the most keenly-interest-ed spectator, as I know was the case last year, everyone to whom. 1 spoke about it being of the same opinion as myself, that the old idea of having the final judgments made in the evening, being by far the better. Another point in this connection is- the fact that many of us are at work during the day, and the evening sessions are our only o-pp<rtunityi to hear any of the competitive side, as well as the announcing of the various awards- and the accompanying instructive remarks made by the judges at the close of the evening’s session. Last year we -were deprived of all these things, and I WOUl’d suggest to the committee that the old method of recalling competitors be again introduced. ’ Another point I want to mention is this: During the Competitions last year, I heard several teachers and . competitors discussing the fact that I all the elocutionary classes were- rush- | ed off in the first few days, and all the music in the last few days. Did it not strike the committee who were i responsible for the laying out of the ' programme that those competitors who we're entered for a number -of items ' were using their voices continuously, without any chapce of a breather, for several days on end, and that those voices must obviously tire consider- ; ably? This applies to reciting just as ’ much as to singing. Furthermore, it : seemed foolish to work each judge right through "his work without a let- : up. Would it not be far more in the ■ interests of both competitors and ! audience, to intersperse the sections- ; one with the other, for two reasons—- ; to give the- competitors a spell, and ■ to give tire audience a little variety? ; I think there agaiii'is a chance for im- ; provement. ; My third and last point is this: 1 ! happened to mention to a friend that J I was going to write this- letter, and ; it was suggested by that friend that - I might mention this also, which, ; though it does 1 not come solely from ; my pen, seems- to me to be quite ; worthy of mention. Last year, the I classes for character songs and reciI tations were held in the Oddfellows’ ! Hall. This was quite a good hall for I all other types l of work, but from what ! a number of the competitors and oth- - ers seem to feel, it does- not lend it- ; self to the performing of the above- ; mentioned type of w-erk. It must be ; extremely difficult to create a charac- ; ter of any kind on a very small stage I devoid of any lighting or scenery. In ! the Town Hall, on a stage where there ! are all these aids to that elusive thing J called “atmosphere,” the young com- ’ petitors would have much better op- ; portunities. Would it not be possible I to interchange perhaps l a class for a ! Highland fling or some- dance where '• only a small stage space ;was neces- • sary, and during the time this was ; being held in the smaller hall, the ; classes for character songs and reci- : tations might be taken into t'he Town : Hall? If I remember rightly, 1 was : told that last year the judge in the Oddfellows’ Hall commented on the unsuitability of that particular • place tor this type of work. That is all I have to say on the matter, and I trust that the Competition's Committee will take ray letter in the spirit in which 1 have written it. and see their way to remedy these one or two things which I could see’ last year, might do with a bit of improvement. I am sure there are others interested, who will perhaps state their views on these matters, and either back me up, or perhaps- disagree. But after ail, any public society who depend on the townsfolk for financial support, are repaid tenfold for paying attention to- that public’s views, and giving them what they want. The Competitions Society has my very best wishes fo/ a successful year, and- many more to follow. Yours etc., JACKPOT.