JUDGE’S SELECTIONS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20513, 3 September 1936, Page 6

JUDGE’S SELECTIONS

At the conclusion of the presentation of the plays, the judge was accompanied to the stage by Dr. W. H. Unwin, president of the South Canterburuy Drama League, Miss Kane, chairwoman of the National Executive of the New Zealand branch of the British Drama League, and members of the executive of the South Canterbury branch of the League. Dr. Unwin, on behalf of the South Canterbury branch, extended a welcome to Mr Lloyd, to Miss Kane, and to the visitors from Christchurch, Dunedin, Oamaru, Ashburton and the North Island. He said that the executive were pleased to see that so many had come from other areas to see how things were done in Timaru. (Laughter.) It would be noticed that at least they had a good audience, and he hoped they enjoyed the same support in other centres. The judge, whose remarks were eagerly awaited, said that he had had a very stiff job. In fact he would have liked to have seen a thousand judges, with himself as the audience, but that was impossible. Timaru could certainly show Wellington a few things about putting on a festival, and Timaru audiences, too, appeared to be able to supply all that was required. It was the type of audience he liked to play in front of, for they did not miss any points at all. However, he had epected something of the sort in-Tim-aru. which was a stronghold of community drama, due mainly to the efforts of Dr. Unwin. (Applause.) Players Congratulated Mr Lloyd said that his job was not to criticise but simply to select one or two plays which would go on to Dunedin to take part in the national final. He had no certificates to award, or marks to announce; all he had to do was name the two plays which he considered were the best. There had been an almost indigestible miscellany of plays presented, but he had enjoyed all of them, and desired to congratulate the producers and the players in all the teams. Mr Lloyd went on to say that first there had been “The Twelve Pound Look,” which was an old favourite of his, and in which he had acted some years ago. It had aged somewhat since then, but was as full of charm and humour and was as whimsical as ever. “The 300th Performance” was quite a new play, but it was a good one, and afforded the producer and players excellent opportunities, which they made good use of. “The Bear” was essentially a farce. Many people, when they got a play by Tchehov were afraid to handle it as a farce, but “The Bear” was almost a music hall joke, and if not handled by a master it would have been cheap. It was handled by a master, however, and it had been well done. For success it depended on the acting and variation of tempo. It was oldfashioned in structure, and the asides were dangerous material for amateurs, but they had been well handled. Finally there was “The Forest of Happy Dreams” by Edgar Wallace. A good many people thought of thrillers when they thought of Wallace, but this play had literary qualities. It was based on “Sanders of the River,” and Wallace knew his Africa. Two Plays Chosen Mr Lloyd said that there should have been two teams coming from the 'North Island, but word had been received that only one would contest he final. It had been suggested that if he thought two plays were good enough to go on to Dunedin, then he should select them, and this he would do. The two plays he had selected were:— The Canterbury College Drama Society in “The Bear.” The Dunedin Players in “The Forest of Happy Dreams.” Mr Lloyd added that the first performance had been well nigh faultless. He expressed his thanks to Dr. Unwin and officials of the South Canterbury League for the kindness they had shown him, and on behalf of the audience, expressed appreciation of the efforts of the people who had worked behind the scenes. Miss Kane expressed the thanks of the National Executive to the South Canterbury Drama League for the effi-

cient way in which the festival had been staged. Later the officials and visiting competitors were entertained at supper in the Little Playhouse. DRAMA IN NORTH ISLAND TEAMS AT ELIMINATION FESTIVAL The North Island Elimination Festival of Drama was brought to a close in Palmerston North on Tuesday evening. In all, eleven plays competed, comprising a most interesting selection of drama, farce, fantasy and tragedy. The judge was Dr W. S. Dale of Auckland. The chairman of the Manawatu Area Council who welcomed the players and the judge remarked on the fact that the winning teams from all over the North Island were participating in the festival for which they were privileged to have as adjudicator, one who, during a post-graduate course in America, had made a study of drama with Professor Allardyce Nicholl, regarded as one of the greatest authorities on drama in the world. It was fortunate for the Dominion that Dr Dale had come back and that his wide knowledge was available for community drama in New Zealand. The Placed Plays The placings at the festival were: Wellington Repertory Theatre in “Fire Below” by Leonard Hines and Frank King. Napier Repertory Players in “The Shadow of the Light” by H. Russell Moss. Also Competed: The following also competed: Milsom Women’s Institute (Manawatu Area) in “Jane Wogan” by Florence Howell. W.E.A. Reading Circle No. 1 (Southern Hawkes Bay) in “They Refuse to be Resurrected” by N. K. Smith. Wanganui Repertory Society in “H'-aven on Earth” by Philip Johnson. Pio Pio Drama Society (Waikato) in “O’Flaherty, V.C.” by Bernard Shaw. Rotorua Women’s Club in “The Last Hour,” by George Graveley. Gisborne Repertory Society in “Barren” by Constance Powell Anderson. Te Opi 111 (Central Taranaki) in “Official Announcement,” by E. M. Elder. Masterton Savage Club in “The Man with the Cane,” by Geoffrey Dearmer. Apollo Players (Hawera) in “Riders to the Sea,” by J. M. Synge. It was originally intended that the two selected teams would proceed to Dunedin to take part in the National Final Festival on Friday evening, but the Napier team has found it impossible to travel.