‘Woolly Manor’

Press, 3 August 1976, Page 19

‘Woolly Manor’

The Takahe has long been one of the best vantage points in Christchurch from which to view the smog while partaking of a cup of tea and a scone. TV2 in their wisdom have seen fit to convert it to an hotel on some island run by the four people who previously inhabited 'Woollv Hills’. It was a mistake. The sumptuous setting of the Takahe is too good for this rather laboured children’s series. I have watched it on two consecutive weeks.

The first week I gave “Woolly Manor” the benefit of the doubt. On both occasions the story lines were similar and equally silly. The characterisations of the guest actors were in both cases verging on caricature and the standard of acting from the resident principals is so varied that the over-all result is a disaster.

In previous series such as “Woolly Hills” the resident actors were helped along by a quick song and a couple of puppet animals but this time they have gone for realism. That is. if plots involving hypnotism with a metronome and some sort of

ancient curse can be called this.

The age group the makers are aiming at in “Woolly Manor” is somewhat obscure — if it is for the over-tens most of these will no doubt be glued to the more sophisticated marvels of “The Six Million Dollar Man" when he returns, and this will leave “Woolly Manor” for dead; if it is for younger children it is far too vague and incomprehensible. In the first of the two episodes I watched no attempt was made to do anything but present a vaguely mystifying story.

This week in the middle of it all Oatmeal took time off to show us how to make a place mat out of coloured paper. This did nothing for the development of the plot and little fcr the paper mat industry either.

There is nothing to fault in the setting provided by the Takahe, or the general wardrobe and set decoration of the series. It is the equal of any of the overseas series showing at present.

The script and acting i unfortunately fall far short of the standards required.