Sir Robert ‘out of place’

Press, 21 July 1986, Page 9

Sir Robert ‘out of place’

PA Auckland Sir Robert Muldoon, who made his stage debut in the “Rocky Horror Show” at the week-end, seemed out of place, a “New Zealand Herald” entertainment critic says. “The old war horse of New Zealand politics is a rather better performer in the theatre of life and — after his stage debut on Saturday — may be wondering how he got himself

into this mess,” the critic said of the show at His Majesty’s.

“It’s not that the man hasn’t got presence. He oozes it; there’s no more recognisable frame in the country. “But he looks plain silly — and dreadfully uncomfortable — vying for the attention of an audience paying to see talented folk strutting, jumping and grinding.

“As they strut, bump and grind, Sir Robert heaves and lumbers. He ain’t got the motion; he ain’t got the body ... he’s as out of place at His Majesty’s as Tim Finn might be leading the Imprest Supply debate. “Like politics, show business is tough stuff, and it couldn’t have helped Sir Robert’s butterflies when he met an interjector just 10 seconds

into his debut. “Recited Sir Robert to his audience: ‘Let me, if I may, take you on a strange journey ...’ “A voice from the stalls: 'What? Another one?’

“A great line, and the old master was stumped. He could only utter his classical deep-throated growl. It was a very early low point and, for him, things didn’t get much higher.”