IMPROMPTU SPEECH COMPETITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21145, 1 October 1930, Page 8

IMPROMPTU SPEECH COMPETITION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —In Monday morning's Daily Times I had the pleasure of Teadin K a leading article exhorting the public to support tl«j competitions at present in progress. No\v as a visiting competitor I feel that the management, at least, is deserving of a little criticism regarding the impromptu speech class. I will give my own experience. I arrived in Dunedin at 5 p.m. . I read the following In the newspaper under the heading of Impromptu Speeches: "Come and hear," then followed competitors' names, and " you aro promised a laugh a minute which will make you forget that times are bad." In another column the public were informed that a visitor from Ashburton was a fluent and humorous speaker. Later I gathered with the competitors at the back of the stage and we were all agreed that it must be something humorous" that was chosen for the subject. At this time I inquired from one official if the judge or judges would come and tell us what was expected from us. He did not know, but thought we should be as humorous as possible. No judge came. When my turn came I was handed the subject, and again the official told me to "make it as funny as you can." Finally before stepping to the footlights the last injunction was, " Be entertaining." I tried to; filled in my time, and left the stage. Next morning amons the judge's remarks appears: " It should be noted, however, that humour which was farcical and which really led the audience to laugh at and not with a competitor could not help him to win," Now had the judge met us previously and warned us what was expected, I guarantee one speech would' have been devoid of humour. I am not speaking as a new chum, as I have competed over forty times in various places it) New Zealand. Not always, but very often, the judge haß met us beforehand and informed us what was expected. My object in writing is to let the society, the public, and the. judges know the disadvantage which competitors are up against, and I sincerely hope it will be remedied before next festival. I blame the society for that. I also blame them for the awful subject they gave us to get humour from. I will go further- and defy the judges, the society, and Sir Harry Lauder to get any humour out of it without gagging or being farcical. So much for the society. However, the judges have reawakened one of my boyhood lessons about where charity begins. Six competed. Of the number three were from over 100 miles away. Three were from Dunedin; they were first, second, and third. I will sign a nom de plume, but to those* interested one guess will find my name. —I am, etc., Competitor. [The above letter is abridged to the extent of the omission of some comment and criticism, with a personal application, respecting the performances and placings.— PX O.D.T.]