Two weeks of ‘the very best in television’

Press, 30 June 1982, Page 19

Two weeks of ‘the very best in television’

Television New Zealand plans to present in mid-July a special season of highquality programmes collectively entitled "A Festival of Television Arts." For a twoweek period the festival will highlight the very best in television, soys TVNZ.

Planned programmes range from drama to serious music to ligat entertainment, and they "should be among the very best in their respective categories."

Heading the drama offerings are two acclaimed British productions. Both feature the ’cream of British acting talent, and both have the name of one of Britain’s foremost television dramatists associated with them.

He is John Mortimer, creator of that beloved legal rascal. “Rumpole of fhe Bailey." His festival offerings are the autobiographical "Voyage Round My Father" and the beginning of his television adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's "Brideshead Revisited." Mortimer describes "Voyage Round My Father" as

"an affectionate, anecdotal tribute" to his father, and through him. to all fathers. It is the story of a man’s determination to carry on as before after he had been struck blind. He and the rest of the family studiously ignored his blindness. He continued to practise as a barrister. but. becoming increasingly eccentric, he would hide behind bushes in the garden when visitors were announced. and ritually drown the earwigs that attacked his dahlias. "Voyage Round My Father" stars Laurence Olivier as Mortimer Senior. Alan Bates as John Mortimer. Elizabeth Sellars as his mother and Jane Asher as his wife. The play ran for a year in the ■ West End before the television production. the latter winning Mortimer the British Writers’ Guild Award. Laurence Olivier, in addition to taking the lead role in Mortimers play, also has a major role in "Brideshead Revisited." He is part of a star-studded cast which includes John Gielgud. Claire Bloom. John Le Mesurier and Diana Quick, and as the two leading characters. Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews. To date, "Brideshead Revi- ~ sited” has won- 12 major awards in less than a year since its release and ’ has been greeted with almost unanimous critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic and in Australia and Canada. In a lighter vein there is a programme that will captivate adults and children alike. It is "Captain Beaky" and his merrv band of Reckless Rat. Batty Bat. Artful Owl and Timid Toad — all in hot pursuit of Hissing Sid the Snake. With poems by Jeremy Lloyd, and narrated by Keith Michel with a little assistance from the likes of Penelope Keith. Harrv ' I

Secombe and Gordon Jackson. "Captain Beaky" became a cult figure in Britain and the television programme will show why. Also of interest to children will be an award-winning animated puppet film of the "Pied Piper of Hamelin." It vividly brings to life the townsfolk, the greedy coun--cillors. the children, the rats and. of course, the Pied Piper himself in what the "Guardian" described as "half an hour of exquisitely crafted puppetry and witty visualisation that should be’come a classic of the genre." Serious music-lovers are not neglected in the festival. It will open on Sunday. July 18. with a spectacular fireworks display illustrating Handel’s Firework Music, and there are two programmes devoted to two of the greatest tenors of all time — Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti. The Pavarotti programme features Richard ’ Thomas. John Williams. Jacqueline Bisset and the tennis star. John McEnroe, while the Caruso programme has the current Metropolitan Opera star. Placido Domingo, sharing the stage with Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic .Orchestra in a lavish tribute to the great tenor. ' Cristobal Halffter’s three orchestral ‘ pieces. “Elegies For The Deaths Of Three Spanish Poets." are the subject of a film by the British director. Christopher Nupen. The latest computer-anima-tion techniques are used to combine the orchestral performance with archive material from the Spanish Civil War and paintings byGoya as an audio-visual extension of the composer's theme. The film was a Gold Medal winner at the London International Television Festival in 1979. The ballet superstar. Mikhail Baryshnikov, who delighted audiences in "Baryshnikov On Broadway." turns his sights to the celluloid city of Hollywood in his latest

special. This light-hearted musical romo has' Baryshnikov signed up with a Hollywood producer and gives him the scope he needs' to take off Hollywood "greats" such as Errol Flynn. Douglas Fairbanks and Rudolf Valentino. Guests include Gene Wilder. Orson Wells and Shirley MacLaine. Shirley MacLaine is also the star of another festival offering. "Every Little Movement." rated by some as the ■ best variety special ever. ! The Emmy Award-winning ■ Miss MacLaine salutes movement in its various forms — sports, children, dance and emotions. With touches of comedy, music and drama, she illustrates the talents that won her four Oscar nominations. Guests on the show are Dean Martin and the gymnast. Kurt Thomas. New Zealand productions are not left out of the festival. "Kaleidoscope" will be presenting some’ material and there will be a profile of the organist. Gillian Weir, rated among "the finest organists of her generation." There will also be the New Zealand-produced drama. "A Woman of Good Character." the tale of a young immigrant woman vvho comes to New Zealand seduced by the advertisements offering "select situations" but finding a harsh, cruel and disappointing reality. It stars Sarah Peirs’e. Derek Hardwick. Jeremy Stephens and Bruno Lawrence and was filmed amid the scenic splendour of South Island high-country sheep stations. Rounding’ off the festival will be the singer. Cleo Laine. In a programme entitled "A Harmony In Music." she teams with the flautist. James Galway, in some beautifully presented . tunes highlighting two unique talents. Festival programmes will be introduced by the "Kaleidoscope" presenters. Angela D’Audney ’ and Gordon McLaughlan.