COMMUNITY DRAMA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20783, 19 July 1937, Page 9

COMMUNITY DRAMA

AREA FESTIVAL IN DUNEDIN The annual festival of community drama of the Otago branch of the British Drama League, was brought to a close on Friday evening, Twelve plays in all were presented the final production, the Dunedin Repertory Society’s A team’s performance of “Bamboo,” a Chinese tragedy, being adjudged the best production of the season. Second place was won by the Belmont Players for their presentation of Mr J. M. Synge’s “The Shadow of the Glen," and the Dunedin Repertory Society also gained third place with “Dante and Beatrice.” "Derelict,” by Mr Philip Johnson, performed by the Street Players, was placed fourth. Announcing her results, the judge, (Miss Helen Gard’ner, of Wellington), said she was very sorry that she was unable to give the Dunedin Repertory Society an A certificate for "Bamboo,” mainly because of one or two prompts that had been necessary, but she had no hesitation whatever in awarding the production first prize. "The Shadow of the Glen,” with its smaller cast, only four players being engaged, was less difficult to produce, ar.d although it scored well for atmosphere and characterisation, it was not entitled to the same recognition on the score of production as a play that involved a larger and less easily handled cast. “Dante and Beatrice” failed through the weakness of a central figure who should have dominated the performance. The four prize-winning plays all won B certificates, the points being as follows: “Bamboo," 84 points 1 “The Shadow of the Glen," 83 points 2 “Dante and Beatrice," 82 points .. 3 “Derelict,” 81 points 4 Presentation of Trophies. The presentation of trophies and certificates won at the festival was carried out by Professor Adams, one of the patrons of the Otago Area of the league, who, in a brief speech, referred to the success of the festival, which he described as a tribute to the co-operative effort of the judge, the players, the producers, and the audience. There was just one point he would like to make before he called upon the judge to announce her placings. It concerned the trophies which he was to present. They were not the culmination of the festival. In fact they were relatively unimportant. If there was one thing that the British Drama League had set its face steadfastly against it was that unpleasant practice which went by the unpleasant name of pot-hunting. The main aim of the festival was to encourage a love of the drama, and the trophies were merely permanent records of the results of succeeding festivals. The chief aim of the competitors should be to secure A, B or C certificates, all of which were meritorious.

Play-Writing Competition. The results of the play-writing competition for Lady Ferguson’s rose bowl were also announced, the chairman (Professor T. D. Adams) adding brief comments on the winning plays forwarded by the judge (Mr Alan Mulgan). The results were as follows: Mr Russell W. Reid, "Peter Moonlight" 1 Mrs W. J. Williams, “Swaps” .. .. 2 Dr. J. B. Dawson, “She is a Queen” 3 KUROW DRAMA FESTIVAL IMPROVED STANDARD OF WORK The second annual drama festival was held at Kurow last week, when seven teams competed, entries being received from teams as distant as Duntroon. The judge was Mrs W. G. Tweedy, of Timaru, who acted in a similar capacity last year. Considerable interest was shown in the festival, and there were large audiences both nights. In commenting on the work of the festival, the judge stated that this had shown considerable improvement on that of the previous year. There were a number of players who showed much promise, and with more experience should be capable of doing first-class work. The judge commented each evening on the plays presented, and offered helpful advice to the players.

At the invitation of the committee, Mr W. G. Tweedy, a vice-president of tue South Canterbury Drama League, addressed those present. He congratulated the committee on the success of the festival, and stated that the South Canterbury League would be very pleased to assist them in any way possible. In view of the interest shown, he suggested that they should consider affiliation with a Drama League area, and offered helpful advice on the course to be followed. He also invited them to consider entering a team or teams in the B grade sectiort of the South .Canterbury Drama League festival. Subsequently the committee decided to enter at least one team, with a possibility that two teams may finally enter.