Outdoor musical play

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33426, 7 January 1974, Page 1

Outdoor musical play

An outdoor production of “Around the World in

80 Days,” an adaptation by the Christchurch playwright, Eve Hughes, of Jules Verne’s novel, will be produced in Jellie Park between January 24 and February 2, to coincide with the Games.

The production will be directed by Hunter Bell, with incidental music by Derry’s Brass Band, whose conductor (Mr D. Goodman) will arrange the music, and the venture is being undertaken by the Elmwood Players. “Around the World in 80 Days” has a cast of about 100 men, women, children, and animals, although there are only a few main speaking parts, which have been

[taken by members of the i Elmwood Players.

PASSENGER STEAMER Mechanical effects, such as a full-scale “elephant,” a train and two carriages, and six boats, including a passenger steamer which will be used to ferry the cast from one “country” to another about Jellie Park, are under construction, but the balloon has yet to be made. It will be hoisted by a crane. The dialogue will be prerecorded to allow the necessary amplification for outdoor performance. NATIONAL THEMES .The original music, which is under copyright, is unsuitable for open-air performance, and Mr Goodman is writing music for certain scenes of the play and for ’■continuity, using appropriate themes for each country.

Besides Derry’s Brass Band, other instrumentalists will be co-opted for the Japanese and Spanish scenes. Special lighting for the pro-: duction will be by Mr A. Williamson, of Hamilton. The Hamilton Open-tic Society presented the premiere version of the musical, “Around the World in 80 Days” more than a year ago.