Results of Playwriting Competition Announced

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 12, 29 September 1933, Page 20

Results of Playwriting Competition Announced

A few weeks ago we announced the result of the ‘‘N.Z. Dairy Exporter’ trophy, which was won by Miss Ilma Levy, of Wellington. Mr. Lloyd has now completed the judging of the other two competitions, for the "Radio Record’ trophy, and the "Tui’s Annual" trophy. These trophies were presented for the purpose of encouraging amateur playwriting talent in New Zealand, and it is gratifying to note the large response, and the excellent standard attained by the winners.

*"The task of judging the plays written by New Zealand playwrights in the British Drama League competitions has been arduous and exacting-but exceptionally interesting,’ Mr. Lloyd said. ‘"The task of reading close on one hundred plays, some of them three ‘or four times over, with the critical faculty ever on the alert is not a job to be undertaken lightly. However, I could not complain of lack of variety, for that is the outstanding feature of this year's plays." Mr. Lloyd said that last year the same old plot-the deadly boredom of farm life, and the itch to forsake the farm for the citv--kept cropping up again

and again in slightly different form. This year, however, authors have covered more ground in their choice of settings, which range from the England of a century ago to wartidden France; from the heart of Africa to. the Thames Embankment; and from New Zealand to America. Mr. Lloyd found that as a general rule the plays were too loosely constructed, and too carelessly written, although there were, of course, exceptions to this. Individual speeches were in almost every case far too long, for the average amateur’s voice is generally not sufficiently colourful to deliver long speeches without boring the audience. The following is Mr. Lloyd's report on the plays entered for the competitions:"The ‘Radio Record’ trophy for the best original one-act play by a New Zealand author whose work has not previously been published. This traphy was awarded to B. R. O'Brien, of Wellington, for his play, ‘Drums.’ This play is set in a hut in the Congo, and opens with the entry of Andy into the hut where Loluka, a half-caste Bantu girl, is listening fearfully to the sound of distant native drums, With the entry of Jim and Tony, Andy’s two companions, a high emotional atmosphere is cleverly created, helped by the menace of the drums in the background. When the emotional tension is at its height, Andy, after quarrelling with his com-

panions, goes out.’ The drums sound again, nearer now; shots are heard, and Andy staggers in saying that he has shot two natives. But a poisoned dart strikes him, and he dies to the increasing, menacing sound of the drums. This is a play that would stage extremely well; the atmosphere of heat, oppression and menace is well worked up, and the dramatic moments skilfully created. The plot is a gaod one, well worked out, and the characters speak like real people. "R. G. Burt, Featherston, ran the winner very close with his two plays, ‘Embankment’ and "The Unsung,’ which are of about equal merit. Another

play of high standard is Ghosts on Christmas Eve,’ by an Aucklander, Mabel Brackenbury Latter, and other good plays are: "The Old Order Changeth,’ by M. H. Jack, Wanganui; ‘A Family Affair,’ by Gwynne I. Peacock, Auckland; ‘Homely Duels,’ by Rita Curtis, Geraldine; ‘By Candle-Light’ by E. M. Madely, Hamilton; ‘The Shadow,’ by A. Jackson, Thomas, Christchurch; and "The Young Depart,’ by G. H. Whitehead, Wellingtan. "The ‘Tui’s Annual’ trophy, for the best one-act play by a New Zealand author was awarded to Eric Bradwell, Wellington, for his play ‘There is no Return.’ This moving play opens with the touching ceremony of the lighting. of a candle by Anne Forrester in memory of her son Roddy who was killed in the war, and whose birthday it is. But Roddy is not killed, he is alive, blind and bereft of memory, and attracted by something familiar in the smell of the garden, he enters the house and is confronted by his sister, who, with-' out knowing their relationship, befriends him. While he is in the next room eatinga meal, Anne, his mother, feeling in some way that Roddy is near to her, says that she is.glad they took-all of him instead of leaving a torn and useless body and a battered and bleeding soul. Then Roddy comes in, unrecognised, groping his way, and is driven out, still unrecognised, by his father. (Continued on -page 45.)

Playwriting Trophies

(Continued from Page 20.) They are unaware of the identity of their visitor, and he does not know the people he has been among. This is a fine, sensitive piece of work, in ‘which there is much constructive thought on the prob’ems of to-day. "Mir, Bradwell, who secured a high place in last year’s ‘Radio Record’ trophy competition with his play, ‘The Man Called Jones,’ submitted a whimsical and delightful little play in a totally different genre, ‘Fantasy By Firelight.2 Other good plays in this section were: ‘Realties, -by John Deane, Wellington, and two others by the same author: ‘The Last Tumbril,’ und ‘Revolt in the Kitchen’; ‘Ebb and Flow,’ and ‘Beyond the Walls,’ by Mrs. V. Targuse, of Christchurch." , Seven or eight of the best of these plays will be published in one volume early in 1934. This volume will also include the play, "God Made Two Trees," by Miss Ilma Levy, which won the "Dairy Exporter" trophy for the best one-act play by a New Zealand writer, produced during the Wellingtom area festival of the British Drama League.