Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 89, 6 July 1927, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

THE SCREEN SEMI-FINALISTS Sir, I attended the Majestic Theatre last night, and saw the four semi-finalists in their dramatic scene. All things considered, I thought they did remarkably well. But would it not be an improvement to hear the spoken word? •There are two reasons for this. First, the audience would enjoy it much more; second, although the spoken word is not used as a rule by screen artists at their work, one of the things that the New Zealander lacks it a correct knowledge of elocution. This also applies to the British people, as a whole, unless specially trained. When “Miss New Zealand 1927” is not acting for the screen she will have to do her part in the social world, therefore I maintain it is necessary for her to be a good elocutionist. Again, it must be doubly difficult for the girls to act and not speak their lines. The spoken word gives them something to hold on to, as it were. INTERESTED. AUCKLAND’S ART THEATRE Sir,— As the season for Auckland’s Little Theatre is again approaching, I "would like to put forward a suggestion which the producer, Mr. Kenneth Brampton, might possibly consider. A feature of the Playbox Theatre, in Sydney— Australia’s only real art theatre—is the Sunday night readings of Mr. Duncan Macdougall. These are, monthly, sandwiched in between productions, and are heartily welcomed by the thinking portion of the city. One may possibly have to sit on a broken-down divan, or on a board placed between two chairs, for these gatherings are not Characterised by dinner suits or anything approaching that sartorial level. Neither are the actual productions, for that matter. Auckland can give Sydney’s art theatre a lead in this respect! Still, they cer-

tainly attract the intelligentsia of the metropolis, and, vicissitudes, have paid their way. Sunday readings would constitute an interesting experiment. They might likewise strengthen the repertory movement in Auckland —- not that it has any reason to complain of lack of public support. A word of praise, too, for Mr. Brampton. The recent Shaw production was a credit to him. Let him carry on with the good W'ork. WELL-WISHER. WRITING ON THE WALL? Sir, — Breakaways in a large party such as that led by the Prime Minister are by no means unknown. The more thoughtful, or less exuberant, section of the Reform Party, after the last election, quite rightly regarded the majority of Mr. Coates with some suspicion and alarm. They realised an obvious danger. The attitude of Messrs. G-lenn, Harris, and Potter, M.P.’s—and there are others within the fold as yet not quite so audacious—is not altogether unexpected. Nevertheless, the position is none the less interesting. Will history, as it has a knack of doing, repeat itself? Will Mr. Coates, like Sir Joseph Ward, fritter away his party’s majority? An excellent Ministerial record does not necessarily mean a successful Prime Ministership. Sir Joseph knows that to his cost. Though the Seddon right-hand, he soon showed on assuming office that he was no party leader. The waning popularity of Mr. Coates after two short years of office suggests that the Reform Party did not make the best choice when the leadership question was settled. Though there is a well-known adage anent changing horses in mid-stream, Reformers might well look to the figure of one of the few really strong men—whatever his deficiencies may be in connection with the portfolio he now holds—in our Ministry of Mediocrities X refer to the Hon. A. T>. McLeod YOUNG NEW ZEALANDER.