2YA Poetry Competition Awards

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 36, 22 March 1929, Page 9

2YA Poetry Competition Awards

‘Dramatic and Humorous Sections

THE competition organised by the 2YA Musical and Dramatic Advisory Committee, for the best original poems, dramatic and humorous, occaSioned widespread interest and resulted in no less than fifty entries being received. The competition was divided into two sections, one for dramatic and the other for humorous poems, and the prizes were kindly donated by Megsrs. Cadbury’s, Limited. Three juses were appointed, Dr. G H. ScWM4iield (Parliamentary librarian), Mr. Johannes Andersen (Turnbull librarian), and Mr. C. A. Marris (editor of the "Referee’), being good enough ‘to consent to act in that capacity. February 28 was fixed as the closing date of entry. All entries were opened at 2YA and the names of competitors carefully removed, each name being numbered and a corresponding number being marked on the entry. The judges, therefore, had no knowledge of the identity of the competitors. Unfortunately Dr. Scholefield had to leave Wellington, and rather than hold up the judging, Messrs. Andersen and Marris undertook the responsibility of making the awards. Their report, which, follows, makes most interesting and instructive reading :- oe Dramatic Section. JMANY of the competitors evidently do not know what is meant by "dramatic." It simply means striking or impressive, either in action or situaiton. Some of the entries were purely descriptive, and descriptive of natural scenery. One piece entered in this section was comic without being dramatic; it should have been entered in the humorous section, though it would not have taken a prize, being much too erude in workmanship. On the whole, the execution of the pieces is below the average, and we are agreed that none is good enough for the first prize. We would recommend that the second prize should go to "Berwyn," for "The Bushman’s Child." At the same time we should like to point out that this piece, while of great buman'’ interest, comes very near to melodramatic. The situation is a od one, and in spite of the faulty workmanship we experienced the feeling while reading this piece that all true drama should give. We feel that, properly delivered, this story should appeal to radio listeners. One or two other pieces might be mentioned. "Pania of the Reef,’ by "Gloria Harlington," is well written in the Hiawatha metre, but the story, reminiscent of "Agnes and the Merman,’ has too little human interest, and is too tamely told to have any dramatic: appeal. However, to this piece we have awarded the third prize. "The Flight of the Falcon," by "Breeze," might appeal to boys, but f only to boys in their young ’teens, and & they were out of their Deadwood Dick days. "A Burning Story," by "Rock," has a certain amount of feeling, but it is not dramatic and is rather weakly expressed. Some of the others, whilst fair verge, have little to pay; others, with a little to say, have

not the command of verse to be able to say it. One tried to emulate Gordon’s "How We Beat the Favourite" The best expressed verses in this section, and the best expressed taking both sections together, is "Odysseus," by This piece is really good; it has the spirit of poetry, and the writer has command both of language and of metre. It is not, however, dramatic; it is purely meditative; and whilst verse’ like it may be found in drama, it is not in itself dramatic, and in drama that kind of verse is used only in the pauses of the drama. It is, however, of such a quality that we should like to recommend a small special prize, as it is well worth publication in the "Radio Record." (Messrs. Cadbury’s Ltd., have generously endorsed the judges’ recommendation, and the writer of "Odysseus" will receive from them a special prize of £1.) Humorous Section. LL the competitors, or nearly all, know what humour means. Sonie of them have good ideas, but are quite unable to give them good expression. Here, too, we think that a first prize is hardly deserved, but on account of its delicacy of touch the first prize might go to -----,, for "Parted"-a wellexpressed idea that at first appeals as sentimental, but is transformed to humour in the last .stanza-a_ light, pleasant humour reminiscent of the English Calverley. The second prize is deserved by "Austral" for "The Four Sports." This is broad humour; and this, too, if properly delivered, will we feel sure appeal to radio listeners. One that runs this one very close is the really humorous situation in "Breeze’s" "Mr. and Mrs. White Hold Hands." This would need much blacksmith work to make the metre run smoothly; the writer needs much practice in technique, but this is entitled to the third prize. A word might be said in connection with one competitor’s remarks in "Hope Deferred." The competitor thinks that if he knew just what the editors wanted he might be able to supply the want. That is the wrong way to look at it. If you have anything to say, say it; if you really feel it and can express your feeling, that is the thing the editor wants. Genuine feeling well expressed always appeals and is always wanted. But if you have no genuine feeling or are unable to express it if you have, what you say will never be wanted. Prize-Winners. Dramatic Section.-Mrs. Beryl Windsor, Gay Street, Ross, Westland, second prize, £2; V. May Cottrell, 24 Hastings Street, Napier, third prize, box of Cadbury’s Chocolates, valued 10s. 6d. Humorous Section.-J. P. Black, 56 Hector Street, Seatoun, Wellington, first prize, £3; Geo. T. Palmer, 58 Forbury Crescent, St. Clair, Dunedin, second prize, £2; Betty Kerr, "Athlone," Kingsdown, Timaru, third prize. a of Cadbury’s Chocolates valued 10s. Special-A, R. D. Fairburn, New Lynn, Auckland, special prize, £1,