“THE RAINMAKER” FOR AUCKLAND

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29220, 2 June 1960, Page 17

“THE RAINMAKER” FOR AUCKLAND

Repertory Play At

Festival

On Friday evening, the cast of the Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society’s play “The Rainmaker” will arrive in Auckland to perform at the twelfth Auckland Festival. This is the first time that a South Island repertory society has been invited to take part in the festival.

The vice-president of the society (Mr J. Hendry) said yesterday that the trip was a decided step forward for the society. “It is the first time that we have been invited to play so far afield,” he told a reception in the office of the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr G. Manning). Mr Manning told the members of the party that drama was a very powerful cultural force in any community. “It has been kept alive in Christchurch by the activities of the Repertory Theatre Society, and I hope you will show in Auckland, what Christchurch can do in the way of dramatic productions,” he said. “The invitation is an honour for Christchurch and a tribute to the society,” said Mr W. Burge, the business manager for the trip. “The festival is almost entirely professional entertainment, so it is a considerable achievement for an amateur company to be invited.” During the seven days that the society will spend in Auckland, they will stage the play, a modern American comedy by Richard Nash, 10 times. “This is a pretty tough schedule for amateurs,” said Mr Burge. “The Rainmaker” was presented in Christchurch last March and the invitation from Auckland was received in December, 1958. The Auckland Festival will run for three weeks. The programme will include performances by the National Orchestra, with the pianist Julius Katchen, a presentation by the New Zealand Opera Company, a ballet, with Beryl Grey and Bryan Ashbridge as well as films, poetry readings, art exhibitions, and lectures. The 14 persons on tour will be Mrs C. Batstone and Messrs J. D. Feberty, J Batstone, J. Partleton, T. Kincaid, J. Cahill, G. McLeary. The producer (Mr F. Newman), the stage manager (Mrs B. Saxelby), the prompt (Mrs I Williams) and the stage director (Mr B. N. Mason) will also travel to Auckland. Others in the party will be the tour manager (Mr W. Burge) the chief mechanist (Mr E. Craighead) and the electrician (Mr G. E. Watson).