The living arts

Press, 21 August 1979, Page 23

The living arts

l For children 1- Two more holiday •f theatre attractions for children will join the Canterbury Children’s j Theatre production this week — one in Riccarton and the other in Shirley. Both will open on Saturiay.

‘‘Playbox Theatre” is the tame given by the Riccart«n Players to the proghmmes that they present regularly during school * hoidays. Each programme coitains a selection of stores, in playlet form, r song and dance, and this ’ monh the stories are r ba on well-known tales. They are "The Fisherman and Eis Wife,” based on a Grirnn tale; “Peter Rabbit,” based on the Beatrix . Potter story; “The Daring r Princess,” a romantic fairy ’ tale; and “The Reluctant Dragcn.’’ in which the winna- is St George. The programmes will be presented in the Wharenui Schod Hall, for one week. The Saturday show will be a 2 pm. matinee, and during the week the starting time for the one-hour show will be 6.30 p.m. The other show for children is “Story Book Theatre,” presented by a more recently established group in the Shirley Community Centre. This group encourages children to take part in its perform;nces, and keeps costumes

and props as simple as possible, to make it easier for children to improvise. Taura Henderson, the producer, has assembled a programme of eight items, including “Rapunzel,” “King Midas,” and a German folk-story. "Story Book Theatre” will be performed in the Shirley Community Centre from Saturday until September 1, starting at 2 p.m. at week-ends and at 7 pun. on week nights. “Whodunnit”

A “live” stage production based on the TV show, “Whodunnit,” will be presented in Rangiora on September 6 by the Rangiora Dramatic Society. Like the TV show, the stage production will feature a mystery playlet (Barry Grant has written one for the occasion) and a guessing panel of guests, who will include a policeman (not yet named), the Wizard, the rugby player, Alex Wyllie, the entertainer, Ray Columbus and Tony Gordon, of Radio Avon. A member of the audience, chosen by lot, will complete the panel. The successful panelists (if any guess the identity of the murderer) will receive prizes, and there will be prizes, too, for members of the audience.

The murdsr playlet is in rehearsal, and it has an

unusual twist: at this stage none of the actors (except, of course, the murderer) knows who committed the murder, how it was committed, or why. The “Rangiora Whodunnit” will be presented in the Rangiora Town Hall on September 6. Auditions Because only two of its usual five major productions have been staged this year the Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society plans a period of intense activity in the next three months. John Kim’s production of Ben Jonson’s “The Alchemist” will open on September 15; on October 20. Neil Simon’s “The Gingerbread Lady” will begin; and “Grease,” the end-of-year musical will open on November 21. A record number of more ’ than 80 auditioned for “Grease” earlier this month. Open auditions for “The Gingerbread Lady,” to be directed by Bria; Deavoll, will be held at the theatre on Monday night. Audition times must be booked in advance.

There are parts for three women and two men, and a minor role for a young man, about 20, as Manuel, an impudent delivery bey, who needs to be dark and to develop an American accent. Maureen Stapleton on Broadway, and Elaine Stritch, in London, played the lead role, of a popular singer who has gone to pot with booze and sex. When she returns after a 10-week drying-out period in a sanitarium, her friend, her daughter, and an actor try to help her to adjust to sobriety. But all three have the opposite effect on her.