‘Time’ will tell for investors

Press, 15 April 1986, Page 30

‘Time’ will tell for investors

By NZPA staff correspondent,

Peter O’Hara

London New Zealanders who provided 100 per cent of the finance for the West End’s latest extravaganza should be able to hope for a successful investment even if many newspaper reviewers criticised opening night

‘Time,’ a musical devised by the 1960 s pop drummer, Dave Clark (of the Dave Clark Five) blasted on to the London stage scene with what one critic said was a “galaxy of deafening effects.”

Green laser beams and revolving lights bombarded the Dominion Theatre which throbbed with noise.

A flying saucer-like section of the stage levitated and the show’s masterpiece, a 5m high suspended talking hologram of Laurence Olivier’s head, emerged from "what looks like a diamante Faberge egg,”

as the "Guardian” put it The New Zealand invnlvamani ctpmc fmm a

company headed by Auckland entrepreneur, Mr John Gow, who raised SNZ6.6 million, including $500,000 from individual

investors on a mailing list.

Mr Gow, aged 37, is executive director for Strada Holdings, co-pro-ducer of 11 major shows in Australia, London, and on Broadway. He was captivated by Clark’s concept to the extent of backing the show fully, although not without some second thoughts. “I think ‘Time’ is going to be hugely successful, but as a matter of principle I would rather have the security of knowing there were other partners,” Mr Gow said. The success of the show, which will star the pop singer, Cliff Richard,

for at least a year, should be guaranteed by the dazzling effects. The British Press Association said "nothing like this has been seen on stage before.”

The opening night audience included Billy Con-

noUy and Pamela Stephenson, Dennis Waterman and Rula Lenska, Ken Russell,

Freddie Mercury, from the rock group, Queen, Morten Harket, of A-tta, an Sigue Sigue Sputnik. They gasped and ap-

plauded the first eerie appearance of Lord Oil-

vier’s ghostly face. Some stood and clapped for 10 minutes at the end. The New Zealand investors, who paid SNZSOOO each and over-subscribed the offer five times, need six months of full houses to cover their costs. For the first six months all the weekly net earnings will go back to New Zealand and after that the producers get 50 per cent, Mr Gow said. The show seems assured of a following who will keep it booked many months in advance. Writing in the “Sun,”

the mass circulation tabloid newspaper, Nick Ferrari said it “emerges as a truly timeless piece of theatre and the most innovative and exciting idea ever to hit a stage.” Critics’ views do not always have a direct bearing on West End success but the "Sun" opinion was not widely shared. Hilary Bonner, of the “Daily Mirror,” said the show was “as big a load of sanctimonious drivel as ' I have ever seen on stage.”

Cliff Richard, aged 45plus, “looks nothing like a rock star of the 80s. Nor does he sound like one. “The saddest thing of all is that ‘Time’ does not have one memorable song,” Bonner wrote. Other critics had reservations about the thin story line, Richard’s lowkey performance, and the music.