6000 Greet Seven Dwarfs

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31665, 29 April 1968, Page 1

6000 Greet Seven Dwarfs

Oohs, Ahs and Hoorahs from the throats of about 6000 ecstatic children and their beaming parents greeted Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Harewood Airport yesterday.

Airport officials described the reception as one of the noisiest ever and rivalling

that accorded the Beatles a few years ago. In their anxiety to get a close look or even a touch of the miniature entertainers and their pretty Snow White, the children broke all airport regulations and forced press and radio reporters to abandon their press conference. As soon as the aircraft bringing the party from Wellington arrived children began leaping over the fences on to the tarmac. When the plane taxied to a halt there

were thousands milling around the exit door. At .first the children kept at a distance but in less than three minutes they enveloped the dwarfs, some of whom were considerably smaller than their ardent admirers. Police had to provide Snow White with an escort to get to her car.

The producer of the show, Mr Paul Sharratt, who has been 14 years in pantomime, said the reception his wife— Snow White—and her seven little men had received was the biggest he could remember. Two New Zealanders, four Australians and one Englishman make up the seven dwarfs who will play the fairy tale in Christchurch during the next two weeks.

One of the seven, Philip Bryant, aged 17, of Melbourne, had the ambition to

be a jockey, but he has never been able to get his weight above four stone. He stands 4ft. The smallest of the dwarfs is Alan Hitchins, of Wanganui, who is a mere 2ft Ilin. He joined the company only a fortnight ago. Gordon Lavender, who is 3ft Ilin, was once a manufacturing jeweller in Christchurch. He has driven his own car for 10 years and is a competent tennis player. Bob Dußarry, aged 23, of Sydney, is vice-captain of a surf life-saving club. He is a weight-lifter who can snatch 25 stone. He can lift two grown men though only 3ft Ilin himself.

Joan Sharratt came to Christchurch in 1962 with another “Snow White" production. She has been playing the role for eight years “with hundreds of dwarfs.”