Billboard

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 22

Billboard

‘After Magritte’ The Lyttelton-based theatre group, Tunnel Vision, enters the surrealistic, world of the painter, Magritte, during its new production. “After Magritte” by British playwright Tom Stoppard opens on August 31 in the Lyttelton Community Centre’s Trinity Hall, Winchester Street at 8 p.m. Performances will continue on September I, 2 and 3. Stoppard’s play echoes the surrealism of Magritte’s painting, combining the painter’s images and motifs with a favourite Stoppard device, the detective. Logic combines with bizarre events in a work described by one critic as “an ingenious playlet.” Lunchtime concert Guitarist Graham Wardrop teams up with singer and keyboard player Liz Braggins for a lunchtime recital at 1.10 p.m. on Friday in the Great Hall of the Arte Centre. Both performers have presented solo recitals this year as part of the Amuri Corporation’s Lunchtime Recital Series. Liz and Graham have played together many times in nightclubs around the city, particularly Tregattis and the Firehouse. Playbox tour A magic carpet ride leads a bored little boy and his furniture into a world of unusual creatures from well know children’s books. “Playbox” is a series of sketches, poems, songs and dances taken from Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, A. A. Milne and Spike Milligan. There will be performances of "Playbox” from August 27 to September 10 in the Mill Theatre, Wise Street, off Lincoln Road. Starting times are 6.30 p.m. on weeknights and 2 p.m. on week-ends. The team of young actors is directed by Kerrie Gallagher. The actors are Bronwyn Bradley, Mike Powell, Lucinda Heslin, Mark Stevens and Toby Martin. “Playbox” runs every school holidays and is a popular choice for holiday entertainment. The performance runs for an hour and costs $3.50 each for both children and adults. Poetry readings Lorna Anker became addicted to the secret vice when she was 50. The muse shook Ralph Woodward by the scruff of his neck, while John Summers started a “retarded” career. ' The three poets and writers will join Denys Trussell and John O’Conner for a poetry reading at Christchurch’s State Trinity Theatre oh August 31 at 7.30 p.m. The five poets have discovered that poetry is a driving obsession which strikes at unexpected times. Denys Trussell, concert pianist, is the biographer of A. R. D. Fairburn. Lorna Anker tried to conceal her poetry writing from her family until the appearance of a book revealed all. Ralph Woodward, editor of “The Bay News” described himself as "long in the tooth” when shaken by a poetic muse. John O’Conner’s work falls into the areas of satirical and serious. Landscape show A photographic exhibition of New Zealand environmental landscapes will open at the Christchurch Town Hall on August 27. . The works by Dunedin photographer, Deric Bircham, were commissioned by the Albert Einstein Foundation to coincide with its international congress in Europe. Bircham was awarded the Einstein Peace Medal in 1986 for his contribution to world peace through his photography. Sponsored by several international organisations, the 20 landscapes include nine North Island and 11 South Island environmental studies. A series of portraits of politicians and royalty will also be included in the exhibition, which runs from August 27 to September 6. Beethoven course Beethoven’s late quartets have been cocooned in a web of misconception since the nineteenth century. The University of Canterbury’s Department of Continuing Education is now working to dispel many of the myths surrounding the five late quartets during a course of six lectures from September 8 to October 13. The masterpieces have been described as Beethoven’s last’ will and testament; awesome musical achievements which defy understanding. Not so, according to the course’s organisers. The works have been clouded by claims and counter-claims which block a full appreciation of the works as masterful compositions. A senior lecturer in the Department of Continuing Education, J. G. Pattinson, will discuss the relevance of the compositions and the music they contain. Illustrations will be given by recordings. Participants need not have musical skills but the ability to follow a musical score is described as an advantage. The six-week course begins on Thursday, September 8 from 10.30 a.m. to 12 noon and runs on Thursdays until October 13. Applications close on Monday, August 29. An enrolment fee of $20.65 will be charged. Family festival Faces familiar to children will be appearing on the fourth Southern Regional Arts Council Tour. The Family Festival will present Mr Moon the Juggler from TVNZ’s “What Now,” Kerry and Mary McCammon of Natural Magic and the innovative puppeteers and designers Flying Hat Company, Briar Middleditch and Helm Ruifrok. Briar Middleditch founded the Flying Hat Company in 1979. She designs and scripts Flying Hat productions. In 1982 Flying Hat produced several puppet programmes filmed by TVNZ’s “After School.” She is presently in Japan attending the World Puppet Festival. Her husband, Helm Ruifrok, is primarily a painter working in oils and pencil. He has toured schools and festivals throughout New Zealand with rod puppets, shadow puppets, a festival dragon which takes up to 30 children and blows smoke and fire, and with various workshops in video animation and puppetmaking. This combination of talents has been drawn together by the Southern Regional Arts Council touring programme for a tour of the smaller South Island centres.

Included on the itinerary is a visit to Ashley (August 27), Waimate (September 6), McKenzie (September 8) and Timaru (September 10). The Family Festival will also tour the West Coast with presentations in Greymouth, on August 29, Hokitika on August 31 and South Westland on September 1.