Beryl on her own

Press, 7 November 1978, Page 20

Beryl on her own

Beryl Te Wiata, widow of the famous Maori singer, Inia Te Wiata, is off on a round of New Zealand’s theatres again — but this time, instead of slaying in the wings, she is the star. Seven years after her husband’s death, she has gathered up the remaining threads of the stage career that, she abandoned nearly 30 years ago, and has embarked on the most difficult of stage ventures: a two-hour, solo performance. Christchurch audiences will have an opportunity to see it tomorrow, when it opens a two-night season in the James Hay Theatre.' Part of the show is an adaptation of Alice Duef Miller’s between-the-wars poem. “The White Cliffs,” described as “the story of a voung American woman who marries an Englishman and shares with all English peonle their darkest hours before victorv.”

In a programme note. Mrs Te Wiata writes that, the poem was published when she and her friends were growin" up, and “the finest of New Zealand manhood was leaving on troopships for World War IL manv never to return.”

The ends wi’h the main character. Susan, about to say goodhve to her son as he leaves for the war. "When I c.arrte across the poem again. I remembered the way we all adored it, and wonderad whether T would still find it as romantic, amusing, sad. and thought-rwovok-ine.” she wrote. “J did.” Bervl Te Wiata first presented the poem on ! stage in a season at the Mercury Theatre in- September of last year, and the “New Zealand Herald” remarked at the time that : she “puts magic into the words and real life into the characters.” The maior part of the ; show, however, is her onehour, one-woman production. “Mrs Kiwi Arthur Presents.” The t'tle is based on one of the more imaginative mispronunciations of its author's name, and has 12 enisodes, all looking at “Ladies of Uncertain Age ” The "Auckland Star” described the show as “gentle satire of genteel people. presented with skill and polish.” The 12 ladies are seen in various guises, including a would-be singer, a faded dancing teacher, and the neighbourhood gossip. They are described as being in the tradition of Joyce Grenfell and Anna Russell, presented in a style “that is Mrs Te Wiata’s own.” Like “The White Cliffs.”

Presents” was first presented at the Mercury Theatre, and has since been repeated at the Invercargill Arts Festival. Beryl Te Wiata was born in Christchurch, but spent most of her early life in Wellington. She appeared regularly in radio plays and stage productions there, even while still a schoolgirl, and in 1948 she went to England

to continue her theatrical work. But while studying at the Central School, London, she met and married Inia Te Wiata, and she abandoned her own stage career to help him, first as secretary and then as manager. Mrs Te Wiata and her daughter, Rima, returned to New Zealand in 1973, two years after her husband’s death. She wrote his biography, “Most Happy Fella,” and produced a documentary film, “Every Bend ... A Power,” about him and his carving of the giant pouilii in New Zealand House, London. Encouraged by the success of these, she returned to the stage, first with two small Auckland theatre groups, then with the Mercury. She has made guest appearances on television with “Hudson and Halls” and “Two on One.” and has been a panel member in “Beauty and the Best.” She has also been heard once again in radio plays.