PLAYERS’ SEARCH FOR PROPS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28514, 18 February 1958, Page 3

PLAYERS’ SEARCH FOR PROPS

Edwardian Costume Difficulties

The New Zealand Players advertised for weeks for late Edwardian corsets, button boots, men’s clothing, car horns, a phonograph and records for the production of “Pygmalion.” The company had only one reply—a parcel, with an Auckland postmark, containing a complete Edwardian morning suite. The company’s designer, David de Bethel, popneed on it happily and now it adorns Alfred Doolittle in his reformed state when he joins the middle-class and marries. Wellington dealers now greet the Players’ designer as an old friend. He has haunted Wellington second-hand shops for properties. The Edison-Bell phonograph for which the Players’ appealed came from a man in Wellington who has a collection of 14, all in good condition. He also has quantities of cylindrical records and several long playing records dating from the 1920’5.

Christchurch is not without its interesting collection. There is one composed of motor horns used entirely for skiffle, as the Players found when they tried to get a horn from several wrecking companies. There were none in stock; they had all been bought.

Women’s costumes presented no problems apparently. Mr de Bethel has a collection of French pattern books which he found in Paris. They are Edwardian and I the patterns are fantastic, resemblling a Chinese puzzle.