DRAMA CONTEST

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22044, 18 August 1941, Page 4

DRAMA CONTEST

Clubs’ Talent Pooled

Interesting Experiment In South Canterbury

An experiment full of possibilities will be embarked upon this year by the South Canterbury Drama League in the plans now being completed for this year’s festival of community drama.

At a meeting of the executive of the League at which the president (Mr A. E. Lawrence), presided, a subcommittee (consisting of Mr Lawrence, Miss F. Sunnaway, Dr. Unwin and Mr C. Clarke), presented its proposals for a community drama festival on the lines suggested by the Drama Circle of the South Canterbury Women’s Club. The plan is based on the pooling of the talent of all clubs and drama groups in an endeavour to maintain interest in the drama in face of the difficulties created by the war and the loss of many players now engaged in wartime work. In response to the Drama League’s invitation to players, willing to assist in this year’s festival, to enrol, no fewer than 55 names representing many societies and drama groups were received of players willing to cooperate. It wag the task of the subcommittee to select suitable one-act plays and then choose players to present the plays. This task was so successfully accomplished that not only have eight suitable plays been selected, but every player who enrolled has been found a part in a play. Producers Appointed Offers to assist in the important work of production of the plays were gratefully received by the executive and the following plays have been allocated to selected producers: “London Front” (Harold Brighousei, Mr N. A. Mobre; “Down on the Farm” (Ivor BroWn), Mr G. Griffiths; “The Master Key” (Wilfred Massey), Mr J. Prendergast; “I Made You Possible” (Ivor Brown), Miss F. Sunnaway; "Tangled Skeins” (Herman Quid), Mrs G. Webster; “The Amazed Evangelist” (James Bridie), M A. E. Lawrence; “Cats of Egypt” (T. B. Morris), Mrs P. W. Rule; “A Rogue in a Bed” (Ronald Elwy MitchelU, Mrs Nelson Wright. Mr Clarke has offered to assist if required when a producer is undertaking the dual work of player and producer. The chairman complimented the sub-committee on the efficient way in which the members had tackled the task. Not only had eight attractive plays been selected and players allotted •interesting roles to portray, but a strong backbone of experienced players (sometimes representing several different clubs), had been cast in all the plays. That not only would facilitate the work of the producers but would benefit less experienced players. The sub-committee was thanked for its good work.

Although this year’s drama festival is to be non-competitive, the question of appointing a commentator who would discuss the work of the players was considered and it was decided that the chairman should make inquiries.