Court to tour winner

Press, 10 April 1978, Page 6

Court to tour winner

By

HOWARD McNaughTON

“Glide Time,” by Roger Hall. Directed by Randell Wackrow for The Court Theatre. James Hay Theatre, April 8 to 15; Westport Community Centre, April 21 to 22: Greymouth Regent Theatre, April 27 to 29, Theatre Royal, Timaru, May 4 to 6; Tinwald Memorial Hall. Ashburton. May 8 to 9. Running time: 8.15 p.m. to 10.45 p.m. With this new production. The Court Theatre embarks on what is by far its most ambitious tour to date — taking a major work (with several supporting programmes) over a wide area of the South Island, and thus fulfilling its status as a “community theatre.” ft is 30 years since the foundation of the ill-fated Community Arts Service, and more than 50 years since the last such touring venture to run on a sound, economic. professional basis. So it is almost impossible to overestimate the courage and artistic dedication behind this Court project. "Glide Time,” of course,

is a splendid choice — a crisp, up-to-date comedy about life in the New Zealand Public Service, a play bristling with laugh-lines which will appeal to everyone who has so much as stepped inside a New Zealand post office. Perhaps the best index to the play’s comic power is in the obvious enthusiasm with which the actors return to their parts, even though adaptation for big theatres has necessitated a good deal of rethinking. Paul Sonne, for example, frolics through his part as if he had never been out of character since he first did it a year ago; the large stage area gives him the extra scope to indulge the hilarious theatricality at which he excels, and his solo routines should be show-stoppers on tour.

Judie Douglass, Russell Smith, and Michael Hurst have parts which pivot on a degree of subtlety which works best in an intimate theatre; however. they were as popular as ever with Saturday night's

audience. Of the newcomers to the cast Sydney Jackson does his best Court role to date as the bludging storeman, and John Givins

does the least appealing part, the Boss. Tony Wahren finds a new perspective to the part of the Welshman, memorably done by Charles Hambltng last year. Comparison of individuals here is purposeless, but it is noticeable that this time the serious elements in Randell Wackrow’s production hang together better than last year, even if the comic tempo of the finale needs more attention.

This is a play which I expected to date fast, and I went to this new production thinking that it would not easily stand a second viewing. Certainly, it is no classic, and its satire will need rewriting if it is to stand production in another year. But on Saturday 1 surprised myself by enjoying the whole evening thoroughly, and noticing that the rest of the audience was guffawing its way through farce, satire, and comedy every bit as lustily as last year.

“Glide Time” will delight audiences throughout its tour — a valuable opportunity to see a highly popular New Zealand plav by the current Bums Fellow, done by The Court Theatre at the height of its strength.