Will The Little Theatre and Public Walk Hand in Hand?

Radio Record, 8 April 1938, Page 6

Will The Little Theatre and Public Walk Hand in Hand?

T HE beginning of the repertory season of 1938 gives point to this article by ‘’Sari’"’ on the politics of amateur dramatic societies in New Zealand. Even if the societies disagree profoundly, they will probably admit that the writer’s opinions are stimulating.

-ITHIN the fast f few -weeks most Y of the little : . theatre — sacieties in New Zealand have either announced or produced the first play of their 1938 season.

Personally, I have seen two productions, each in a different centre, and, if the offerings are typical, the 1938 season is going to be much on a level with the 1934-35-36, and -37 seasons. That remark is not made in any derogatory sense. Taken all in all, Little Theatre standards in New Zealand cities surely compare favourably with Little Theatre standards in most other English-speak-ing countries. Much progress of the internal variety is being made. But I do look forward to the day when I shall be able to go to a repertory show in New Zealand, and, without knowing a soul in the cast, be able to enjoy the presentation of a play for its own sake. In most, if not in all cases, this is frankly not possible in New Zealand to-day. Until it is possible the Little Theatre movement will not have come to maturity. Why is it that third-rate professionals so often entertain us, where first-rate amateurs so frequently bore us? Considering the problem from all angles, I think the explanation lies mainly with two factors -selection of material and discipline in production. Nowadays stage management and costuming are very adequately attended to by the larger societies. In Wellington, particularly, I have seen plays pro-

duced by amateurs’ in which the staging and dressing were so _ nearly up to professional dard, that the difference hardly mattered. But | have yet to see an amatucr production anywhere in

New Zealand in which the casting is 100 per cent. logical, and in which ambition does not obscure acting ability with its ham-head! The system on which most amateur societies is run is fundamentally unsound. Usually the committee decides what plays will be lined up for the season, quite irrespective of the acting personnel of the society, and of the possibility of finding a competent producer. If committees were to make their first and chief duty the selection of a competent producer for each performance planned, and leave the selection of the play, and, above all, the casting, to him, the Little Theatre would not be piling up between itself and the general public a whole mountain of mistrust and prejudice. In a few years the very dynamite of genius will be needed to demolish that mountain before the amateur theatre and the general public can walk hand in hand. Members of any society taking part in a public performance of a play should be prepared to subject themselves to professional, or near professional, dis-cipline-to permit (without recourse to committeecanvassing), the producer to say both how a_ part should be played and who should play it. Working along such lines, a really competent producer should be able to turn on an entertaining show with almost any material. With good material he should be able to turn on a first-rate show. (Ctd. on next page.)

(Continued Erom previous page: )

In. playreading and private activity, «very Little Theatre society can increase knowledge and appreciation of drama to its heart’s content, but in public production it should confine itself strictly to materia] that can be produced, so that it will provide as much entertalumeut for a casual patron from u far town as for the mother and cousils of the juvenile lead. . Before much real progress will be made With umateur drama, the umnteurs Inust learn to put the show-busi-vess before art. eame our own New Zealand ZB con. versutionalist. And he, bless him, told us in his bright morning voice that Cambridge bad won! Well, novelty is all very well in its way, but not that way. It is.a pity. that 2ZB’s