A comedy about one middle-aged man's struggle against technology struck a chord with the audience which voted it the inaugural winner of the ''Pint-Sized Plays New Zealand'' competition in SkyCity Queenstown Casino on Sunday night.
Actor Mike Legge, who also wrote Dinosaur, shared the stage with actresses Jo Blick and Fiona Stephenson. The Queenstown talent said his character's bafflement with social media and gadgets was very much his own, after he was presented with his trophy to a round of applause.
The audience of more than 70 theatre fans, members of host society Remarkable Theatre and supporters of the cast, crew and mystery writers, voted for their favourite of the six original and well-received Pint-Sized Plays performed on the night. The names of the authors were not revealed until votes were cast.
Playwrights were restricted to writing a play of up to 10 minutes in duration, the use of up to three thespians and minimal use of props and costumes, which could all be easily assembled in a pub environment.
Howzat?, by David Cantwell, of Arrowtown, who also masterminded the New Zealand competition, was voted second favourite and The Visionaries, by Barbara Glass, of Speargrass Flat, was voted third favourite.
The clever opening piece Role Play and hilarious closing play Tightrope were sent from the founders of the Pint-Sized Plays competition, who started the imaginative form of entertainment in Wales in 2007.
Dinosaur will be entered in the Welsh competition when it is held later this year.
Mr Legge said he was looking forward to drinking a pint from his pint-sized trophy and he hoped the New Zealand competition would grow from its debut. He said he would be back with a new play next year, to defend his title.
