The living arts

Press, 2 October 1979, Page 12

The living arts

Reuitched “Badjelly the Witch." one of the most successful productions by the Canterbury Children's Theatre in recent years, will not be allowed to put her brromstick away — yet. Because the “Sold Out' sign was up in the box office on almost every night of the two-week seaso~ in the August school holidays, the group has decided to present the play again next May. Another outing for “Badjeily" is on the cards for March: the group has been invited to present it a- the Auckland Festival. But plans for this are still up on a broomstick, because of the enormous cost of getting cast and props to Auckland. Negotiations are being held, and a decision is expected soon. “Radfelly the Witch” is a New Zealand stage

adaptation of a children S ’story by Spike Milligan. Panto min 1 ex Christchurch audiences will have a choice of two pantomimes this week. One. a version of “Cinderella." is being presented by the St Christopher’s Drama Group, which is iased in Avonhead. and the other is the annual production in the Repertory Theatre by the Christchurch Theatre Workshop. The St Christopher’s script has been written by John Goodliffe. who has kept to the traditional form, featuring a Dame and a Principal Boy. John Goodliffe is also musical director, and Shirley Caddick is the producer. The cast includes Keith Cooke, Posalind Peek. Julie Batstone, Gae Cherry, and Fiona Edwards, and the performances will be in

the St Christopher s Church hall on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Peter Roberts, who was a stage professional for 24 years in England, has written and produced “Jack and the Beanstalk" for the Christchurch Theatre Workshop. There are 10 scenes, a chorus of 20. 20 dancers, and a large cast, led by Alan McConnel as the Dame and Janice Tweedy as Jack. The production will open on Saturday, and run until October 13. Kiln and loom A range of handweaving and pottery is being shown in the CSA gallery this week by a Christchurch group. “From Kiln and Loom.” which has exhibited regularly in the last few years. Six weavers are represented (Jill Dandp, Koos van tier Borch, Anne Field. Jacquie O'Brien, and Pauline Pease) and three potters (Aina Apse. Joan Moon and Sally Connolly I. and most of the work on display ■is utilitarian — the group's, stated aim is to show that “handcrafted articles can be both decorative and useful." The exhibition, which opened last night, will continue until October 14.

Herrie musical Drama students at the

Christchurch Teachers College are presenting a musical set in the reign of Elizabeth I. Entitled “Merrie England," it has music written by Edward Gesmafi and directed by Graeme Wallis, who was music director for the Gang Show.

The musical is described a “rollicking show with rousing music.” The cast includes Dimitri Gibara. who played Bottom in the outdoor production of “A Mids u m m er" Night'sDream” in Mona Vale last autumn: Paul Burland. who was in the cast of the Christchurch production of “The Sound of Music’” this year. , and Sue Crome. who sings 'in the National Youth Choir. The musical is being staged in the college auditorium. Its season will .end on Saturday. Theatre children One. of Christchurch s lesser known theatre groups will present a sample of its Work for the first time at the end of next month. It is the Children’s Theatre Workshop. a group of 17 children aged between eight and 14 who meet every Wednesday afternoon after school in the Wainoni scout den. The group is supervised by Patricia Tobin, who has worked in theatre in Australia. The children come from New Brighton. Shirlev.

Avondale and Linwood. Mrs Tobin has taug

the children dance routines. but generally ha.left them to their own devices. They choose their own scripts, interpret them in their own way. and run their own rehearsals. and one item in their presentation in the Aranui High School hall on November 30 and December 1 will be a play that they have written and directed themselves. The group was started in April by Mrs Tobin, who said she wanted to do something different to encourage young people to go in to the theatre. It has. she says, not only been successful, but has been “a lot of fun.” Band and choir The champion New Zealand band, the Skeilerup Woolston Band, will join rhe choir of the Royal Christchurch Musical Society on October 13 for a “concert with a difference.” the programme, which has been planned as a family concert, includes popular classics and pop songs, and includes a new work composed for the occasion by Kit Powell, of Christchurch. Part of the proceeeds will, go towards sending rhe band, which has won the “A” grade title in the national championships in seven of the last nine years, to Australia next

year to take part in th - Australian band champion ships. The band will als, make a short concert ton in Australia. The concert will ope with music for Royt. occasions, .ncludin Handel’s “Zadck th Priest” and Walton's Cor, nation march, “Crown In. perial.” the choir w: sing some British folk songs and these will b followed by an arrange ment for band and ch i •_J "The Battle Hymn < the Republic." A suite o three "German Huntin; Songs" has been arrange, b.y Kit Powell and the band will play “Tin Chase." The first half c. the concert will conclude with some populai extracts from Grant Opera — The Prelude te Act II of “Lohengrin” the chrous of Hebrew Slave: from “Nabucco” and the Grand March from “Aida." The second half wi! open with songs from shows, then the band wil play variations on Heyken's “Serenade.” Ttii. will be followed by the premiere of Kit Powell's new work. “The Pink Pan ther’s Picnic,” described a.“an entertainment fot brass band and chorus.” To round off the concert some modern songs will be presented. The band will give - a “Salute to Elvis” and the choir will join in "Don’t Cry for me Argentina" and “Sailing."