The Arts in 1988

Press, 28 December 1988, Page 14

The Arts in 1988

Christchurch enjoyed a wonderful year of entertainment and culture in virtually all aspects of the arts in 1988. In the professional theatre, productions ranged from the Court Theatre’s perennially popular “Arsenic and Old Lace” early in the year to its very successful version of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” with many other high points, including “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” to celebrate the centenary of Eugene O’Neill’s birth, Roger Hall’s comedy “The Share Club,” and its Christmas extravaganza, “The Three Musketeers.” Katherine Mansfield’s birth centenary also produced a wide range of celebrations, including Elizabeth O’Connor’s “Bright Birds,” especially commissioned by the Court Theatre; Cathy Downes’ dramatic portrait “The Case of Katherine Mansfield”; and three original dances by the Southern Ballet. The Fringe Festival helped launch the performing arts for 1988, and in the visual arts, the Robert McDougall Gallery began with the spectacular Munch print exhibition, “Death and Desire.” The gallery also showed the best of its own collection of graphic art with its “Paper Treasures” in July, and lightened the winter atmosphere with its amusing soft sculpture exhibition, “Stuffing On.” At the Canterbury Society of Arts gallery, Alison Ryde’s “Summer Waters” show of vibrant watercolours produced a blaze of colour. The highpoints in the craft field were the Canterbury Potters’ 25th anniversary show, and the furniture makers’ “Southern Style” exhibition at the Town Hall.

Music lovers were treated to a wide range of work, from William Southgate’s 2nd Symphony “Music from the Old World,” to the Canterbury Opera’s modern version of Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” There were visiting blues artists from the United States, the African National Congress’s “Amandla!” show, and performances by the Royal New Zealand Ballet of “Coppelia” and “Romeo and Juliet”