Schoolboy’s Puppet Show For Auckland Carnival

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27563, 21 January 1955, Page 9

Schoolboy’s Puppet Show For Auckland Carnival

"The Press’* Special Service

AUCKLAND, Jan. 20. A 17-year-old schoolboy, who began puppetry at the age of four, making puppets from clothes pegs, gum berries, and plasticine, will present two Srogrammes at the Auckland Public elations Office birthday carnival. The first will be “Carnival Capers”— marionette mirth and music at the fair, and the second, “Promenade Concert” —puppets with variety and melody. Greer Twiss, who has been afflicted by asthma for most of his life, has come a long way since he made his first crude, childish effigies. Now his manipulation and acting of puppets is regarded as in line with the best of overseas artists. Greer’s hobby has grown to such an extent that his parents, Mr and Mrs E. L. Twiss, have handed over their draw-

ing-room to him, and have also virtually become his employees. When not working at his lampshade manufacturing shop, Mr Twiss is busy making parts for puppets, or helping Greer with backdrops. Mrs Twiss makes costumes to Greer’s designs. The drawing-room houses a neat, portable theatre, which Greer uses to produce his shows. He is the family expert at manipulating the puppets, and his dexterity has to be seen to be appreciated. He has put on a number of shows for charities and produced “Trial by Jury” for fellow pupils at the Auckland Grammar School.

Greer’s plans for the future are bound up with his puppets. He plans to stay on for one or perhaps two more years at school. Then he wants to go to art school, take/a diploma in fine arts, and continue puppetry.