Former Amateurs Are Not Active

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1010, 28 June 1930, Page 24

Former Amateurs Are Not Active

NO HAMILTON SHOWS TALENT AVAILABLE (Written for THE SUN by C.C.T.) Hamilton, once a bright spot for amateur theatricals, has suffered since the advent of the talkies. At this time last year, when “tinned” music and drama were stirring in their cradles, there were several plays under rehearsal among the various clubs and societies in the district. There is now no hall in the town suitable for an amateur production. All the suitable ones are “wired” and this difficulty, together with the certainty of a substantial loss, has weighed a good deal with tne powers-that-be in local producing circles. Although at the annual meeting of the Operatic Society a motion was passed that the society not go into recess it is practically certain that this year—for the first time in many years ! -—there will be no show. To launch out on another opera costing anything up to £7OO would certainly be flying in the face of providence at present, although the opinion has often been expressed by some local playgoers that the productions could be much less elaborate and costly and yet up to past standards. Inferiority complex as a result of the talkies appears also to be the complaint of the Hamilton Little Theatre Society, which produced two excellent plays last year and met with fair public support. The winter is now well advanced, but nothing has been heard of them and inquiries show that no plays are in rehearsal. While Mi. AV. H. Frye and his energetic band of enthusiasts deserve every credit for the courage shown ill giving Hamilton a taste of the Little Theatre movement. the fact remains that the casts were almost entirely composed of operatic society people. No amateur movement can hope to be successful while its operations are confined to a clique and while no efforts are made to discover fresh talent. That such exists here there is not a and it has been sug gested that the society take steps to find it and lead a “back to the stage campaign.” No one can predict the public reaction to such a movement today, hut it is certainly worth a trial. Histrionically, Hamilton is dead, a! though there are two groups in which a flicker of interest is still shown. Readings by the Shakespeare Club are still well attended, but the appeal to the general theatre-going public is ju-actically nil. The Dandy Dozen, an offshoot of the Operatic Society, has, it is understood, planned a programme for the season comprising bright and snappy fare which “goes over” well anywhere; This concert party ha.s also been rehearsing “The Whole Town’s Talking,” and there are whispers that the curtain will rise on something good in a few weeks. Months have slipped by since a pro fessional show has been staged locally. Last year there were complaints that the size and importance of the town from a box office standpoint were not realised sufficiently by the big companies and a welcome flood of plays came, but was as suddenly checked by the advent of the talkies.