FIRST DRAMA FESTIVAL AT TAUPO WAS PRONOUNCED SUCCESS

Taupo Times, Volume VI, Issue 287, 8 August 1957, Page 1

FIRST DRAMA FESTIVAL AT TAUPO WAS PRONOUNCED SUCCESS

There is no doubl that the three-day British Drama Lgague festival last week was a pronoimeed snceess, and that the easts of the nine plays gained valuable experience. The deoision of the jndge, Mrs L. K. "Raine, of Hamilton, to awffrd lirst place to Mangakino Drama Olub's preslntation of "¥i!Ia For Bale, was well deserved.

Throughout the festival the attendanees at the Memorial Hali were excellent. Mrs F. A. Tier, secretary-treasurer of the British Drama League's Taupo area, says that over 590 people saw the plays. When the Mayor, .Mr J. E. Story, spoke from the stage on opening night, he coiigratulated the committee upon having a drama festival at Taupo and said : "It is a step in the right direetion. "It creatcs ;in interest and fellowship between tlie public and tlie people taking part in the various performances." ^ JIDGE'S COMMENTS Taupo Dramatic Society was awarded seeond place with Phillip Johnson's drama "The Distant Drum." Those in tlie east, in order of appearance, were John Coiu-y. Sally Kent, Dulcie Cohen. Geoff. Foote, Bill Lembei'g. Produce]', Miss Du'cie M. Cohen. Both producer and east were eominended by Mrs Paine, who in a brief conunetttary said slie "would have liked to see those flrst-class people iu a really good play."

Oue could not; have agreed more. Iier comment will no doubt be given considerable thought hy Ihe selection committee of the Taupo Dramatic Society. MILI) CRITICTSMS There were ample coiitrasts among tlie competing plays, and it: was evideni that botli producers and casts had gone ti) considerable nains to make the liiosl of the scripts. Mrs Paiile may have rofrained deliherately from I'odowiUg Ihe course set liy some judges, who consider it helpful, and in tlie interests of better tluatre, to proffer eriticism on oro(luctions. 8he was miidsy critical of sonie of ihe siage-pictures, but for the liiosi part her coniments were benevolent. Ti appears to the writer that the stateiueiit lieard that "they are only amateurs" is not liecessiii'iiy sound, but that eriticism which is at onee helpful and forthright is good for the theatrical soul. RAIBED STANDARDS It was a precept followed for a number of years by Miss Elizabetli B'ake, whose pungent comments at drama fcstivaas in various paris of the eountry a few years ago uid much to raise the general standard of amatenr prodiictions. Ilowever, the enthusiasm with which members of theatrical groups at Mangakino, Tokoroa, Reporoa and Taupo buckled down to rehearsals, some of them travelling long distances to the festival, pius the undoubted interest of the public, demonstrates that the undertaking was well worth while. Its success shouid do miteli to stimiilate the little tlieatre movement iu Taupo itself.