Return To World Of Wodehouse

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 3

Return To World Of Wodehouse

A correspondent suggested recently that we had been less than fair to Wodehouse and to Ukridge by failing to make mention of “The World of Wodehouse” a week ago. The fact of the matter is that anyone proposing to watch every television programme screened every day would require an enormous viewing appetite and a substantial private income, and we enjoy neither of these assets. Some sort of system of selection is demanded, and therefore Ukridge, having apparently displayed his full talents in some tedious tales, came off our list. But the correspondent prompted us to try again, and this we did, on Sunday. While it is seldom a matter of satisfaction to admit a mistake, this we now do freely. “The Return of Battling Blison” was by no means hilarious. The situations and their development were often obvious; but it was entertaining enough to warrant a revision of opinion. Occasionally, shafts of Wodehouse wit. came through delightfully. “The World of Wodehouse” is by no means at the top of our personal list of likes, but this latest example was certainly an improvement on some of the earlier ones. Complaints about the acoustics of the stage for the New Zealand national day performance at Expo 70 were substantiated by the film which was screened on Sunday evening, but this record was well worth watching. The national band gave an outstanding display, and there were some excellent.shots of shearing, the fashion parade, and others among a long and

varied programme. The axemen must have been impressive, even to spectators accustomed to experts in karate; The legend of Maui and the story of the development of New Zealand, by play and pageant, were among the highlights. It was obvious an enormous amount of effort had been out into the production and presentation, and the performance reflected much credit on those responsible for it. ♦ . » The Dick Van Dyke comedies were extremely popular in New Zealand, and there will be flash-backs to some of these successful shows during a “Showtime” appearance of Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore scheduled for mid-August. It is titled “Dick Van Dyke and The Other Woman.” These two talented artists combine in songs, dances and sketches. Enthusiasts for country and western music will be glad to know that “Country Touch” will be on CHTV3’s programme, also in mid-August. Tex Morton and the Hamilton County Blue Grass Band head a long list of artists. — PANDORA.