"A Handful of Thieves”

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 4

"A Handful of Thieves”

The children's serial “The Tyrant King” which screened from CHTV3 some time ago, was popular with children and with a good many of their parents. A similarly wide audience may be expected for « new 8.8. C. production bought by the N.Z.B.C. “A Handful of Thieves,” adapted by Rosemary Sissons from the bestselling book of the same name written by Nina Bawden. Victor Gollancz, the publishers of “A Handful of Thieves," give the following description of the book on the flyleaf:—

. “It’s not a gang, we’re not babies,” says Fred McAlpine to Clio, the newest member. “It’s a committee. The Cemetery Committee." While not as gruesome as its name suggests, the committee believes in action rather than words. Besides Fred, there is Sid, Algy, Rosie and her friend, Clfo.

“At the start of Fred’s story the committee is chiefly occupied in amassing funds for bonfire night fireworks and in evading the watchman of the deserted car-racing track where they test their courage on the ‘Death Wall? Then, on fireworks night itself, Fred’s grandmother falls victim to a confidence trickster. Gran is a proud old lady, and rather than confess her gullibility, she insists that the committee tell no-one of the theft. Horrified by what has happened they vow to take the law into their own hands, bring the thief to justice, and restore Gran's stolen savings-

“This proves no easy, task and the committee find themselves in deeper and deeper water until they are forced into desperate and illegal actions. Things begin to look black but after a chase that is at first hilarious and then downright dangerous, Fred and his friends justify themselves in the eyes of the law and their grown-up friends.”

There are four programmes in the series, each running for 24 minutes.