OXFORD PIERROTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 18, 1 November 1932, Page 8

OXFORD PIERROTS.

STUDENTS AS “BLAZERS.” SPECTACULAR. PROCESSION. The Oxford “Blazers,” a party of Oxford undergraduates who have formed a pierrot party to tour the south east resorts, gave their first show in the Queen’s Hall, Seaford, Sussex, recently. To advertise their show the “Blazers” marched through' the streets with four young W 7 est End actresses who are assisting them, carrying sandwich boards and beating a drum. The leader, Mr Giles Playfair, of Merton College, is a son of Sir Nigel Playfair, the actor-manager. He suggested the peirrot party as a means of giving a start to undergraduate composers and lyric writers. . Mr John Glyn Jones, of Magdalen College, the comedian of the show, made eveiyone laugh with his studies of a village policeman, a love-lorn spinster, and a French music-hall star. Other members of the company are Mr Michael Sayer, of Trinity College, the pianist, who has written much of the music ' and lyrics ; Mr Anthony l Spurgin, of Christ Church, musical director; Mr Christopher Hassall, of WaEham, lyric writer, who sings his own songs; Mr Ted Murray, of Magdalen, who plays the drums and violin , and Mr Bill Williams, of Christ Church, the saxophonist. Mr John Gardiner, of New College, the business manager, said: “I-t has cost us, about £l5O to put the show on. We have had only a fortnight’s rehearsal, and have been working 12 ' hours a day. We are already booked for four more weeks, and are to play at Folkestone and Oxford.”' Mr Playfair had an exciting motorcar'dash to Oxford on the day of the performance for his final oral examination in law. He worked for 12 houis on the previous day rehearsing with the pierrots, then went to London, and left London early in the morning by train for Oxford. He was, however, so preoccupied with thoughts of the pierrot show that he forgot to get out at the right station, and arrived at Swindon, 30 miles from Oxford, >at 9.5 a.m. “It was essential that I should be at Oxford prompt at ten,” Mr Playfair said. “I hired a motor-car and we covered the 30 miles in three-quar-ters of an hour. I rushed out of the " ‘car, changed into my gown, sprinted for the examination room, and got there just in time. The examination lasted only three minutes, as it was only a formality, but an important one. Then I returned at once to Seaford for the show.”

Every year Britain imports canned pig, poultry, dairy products, and fruit and vegetables to the value of £187,000,000.