“BRAVE NEW ZEALAND” AND “HELL’S BELLS”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 185, 4 May 1936, Page 14

“BRAVE NEW ZEALAND” AND “HELL’S BELLS”

Student Capping Caperings BRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT IN “CAPPICADE” Bright entertainment indeed is provided in •’Cappicade, 1936,” the annual capering on the stage of Victoria University College students as part of capping week celebrations, which opened at the Grand Opera House, Wellington, on Saturday night, lu "Hell's Bello” (a defence in ong attack), "Intermission in Eternity,” and "Brave New Zealand” (an extravaganza), there is a feast ol student wit and burlesque, line choruses, and delightful ballet work. “HELL’S BELLS.”. Clerks in .Ministry of Extcrminatiunal Affairs, Umbugouia—.Mister CuthbertT. A. liarpur .Mister CuthbertA. B. Gordon .Mister Cuthbert S. .McNieol Mister CuthbertC. R. Hutton Mister Cuthbert G. Snaw Mister CuthbertH. I. Downck Cuthbert (Juuior Clerk) .... G. Davies Tea-ypistes — Confetti Miss R. Drummoud Loofah Miss P. Edwards Hebe Miss M. Duun lloutiua Miss C. Webb Edelweiss Miss M. McGreevy CzczczMiss Eve Niug Bunko Mustalinitlerassiniui (Nozt Dictator of Umbugonio) .. A. H. Scotuey Gadarenersehwetuerof Doolittell (Nozi Minister of Exterminational Affairs) Martin Liddle Stonio (member of the Nozi Council) P. Macaskill

Nozi Councillors — Donnerundblitz J. Hott Ogpushki IL Sivyer Blotteau F. Purlitn Supristi D. Bickering Carrambaß. K. Keating

The scene of ‘’Hell’s Bells is laid in the office of the Minister of Extermirfational Affairs, Umbugonia, and it revolves round a one-hour session of the Nozi Council of State, which begins and ends in a declaration of war on the Aspirinelanders for causing a famine in feminine fascination. There is wit and satire in every other line of the dialogue, which beyond its topical eomedy is a burlesque of certain scantilydisguised dictators of the modern world. Bunko Mustaiinitlerassinini, Nozi Dictator of Umbugonia, is going to end the famine in lipstick, so lie serves an ultimatum on the barbarians who have cornered it. Hi's power as a dictator is complete over the "yesmeu” of the council (one of another mind there is "liquidated”), and even tue swastika-faced clock pulses to his own beat. As the Nozi Dictator Mr. A. 11. Scotney works himselt up into fine frenzies in his perorations to the Council. If he is a second Hitler in the flesh his concern is that of another Mussolini —of taking up the white man’s burden. He is the AU Highest whose will can brook no other, and he certainly possesses all the appurtenances of the dictator, down to the projecting chin. It was a capital performance. Mr. feeotney has as bis lieutenant Minister of Exterminational Affairs Doolittell (Mr. Martin Liddle), whose chief claim to note is a very fine voice, seen in two of the chief hits of ‘‘Hell’s Bells,” "Its a Bet, Sir!” and "Hymn to Mars.” Another aspect of war is introduced by the Cuthberts, who begin with some reflections on the civil service and in the end escape the white feathers presented by the teaypistes when they become brass bats in Bunko’s army. They are seen to effect in the "Chorus of Cuthberts,’ ami teaypistes round off a very effective piece ot work doing credit to the ballet mistress, Miss Sheila Fraser. ‘‘Hell’s Bells” was written by a gentleman who goes under the cloak of. William Shakesbrook, and was produced by Mr. J. B. Aimers. The ‘‘lntermission in Eternity, by Mr. John"Carrad, is an entertaining prelude to "Brave New Zealand.” The Mau ot the Twentieth Century (Mr. Martin Liddle), is introduced by the Mau of the Future (Mr. Alfred Katz), to the Fortieth Century Follies. In the follies of the future the nine charming druculas scored one of the big successes of the evening, for their antics on the stage and the house in fits. A certain well-known screen star comes to life in Maybe Best (Mr. Malcolm Mason). •‘BRAVE NEW ZEALAND.” Mustapha (an aneient sage who - knows his onions)A. 1. S. McGhie Iweedledum and Tweedledee (the Siamese Twins, rulers ot the Savage Reserve) E D Christenson, It. b. V. Simpson Mr. Simple (a vulgar Kentleman) Mrs. Sox Billyboy (an Amazon; the non-politleal candidate) A. M. McGhie Mr. Startou (the company’s curse), S. Agar Max Peril, Miss Rawbeef, Gerald Tiffin (the Communistic Trio) 1. KAlexander, Eileen Doyle, A. R. Perry Mickey (the Super Savage; leader of the Slavers) H- I. N- Matt Mr. Wotta Hash (the Financial Wizard) E. Bethridge-Topp Mr. Dlddfiop (the Soul of the Savages) K* R* Hutcheson Cookie (a hanger-on) H. G. Dunean Anne Howe (a very modern miss) Berys Ball Ronald Banqueau (a hyper-modern youth) T. A. Harpur First Student D. Seifert Second Student C. V. Gallagher Third Student Max Huttou Fourth Student <>. Hooper First Girl Betty McPherson Second Girl Susie Sanders Decanting Girls: Jean Cooke, Molly Dunn, Joyce Cruttenden, Betty McDonald, Sonia Caselberg, Mona Johanson, Hilary Henderson, Cynthia Smith, Margaret Marlet, Dora Wild, Annette Bristow, Joan Bacon, Leonie Cameron, . Cecile O’Halloran, Ursula Nelson. Students' Chorus: R. Anderson, E. E. Suckling, 11. Williamson, K. Brasled, H. W. Wilkinson. S. J. Wilson. Savages: G. W. Suisted, D. Blackley, R. J. Corkill, 8. P. .Walsh, R. Logan, R. Goldtinch. Ballet: Celia O'Halloran, Molly Dawn, -Myra D. (Reid, b'oelhie Louissou, Margaret McGrlevy, Betty Maedouald, Hilary Henderson, Cora Duncan.

"Brave New Zealand,'’ written by Mr. Bouald L. Meek, is described as a musical perversion ot' Aldous Huxley’s "Brave New World.” Alter a prologue in the Garden of Eden, the full significance of which comes out later, the scene moves to the’decanting room in the New Zealand branch of the World Federation Hatchery on Fordsday in the year 372 AF (After Ford). The ancient sago Mustapha, whose resemblance to one of the sages of the present world is not disguised, explains to the hyper-youth of the time the curiosity of birth. By the aid of a televise he shows them the preserve of the Savages, the relic of people who were born into the world before the decanting methods of the "Brave New Zealand” was applied. The Savages come on a visit to the new world (a helio-plane enables them to make the trip of 500 miles in a couple of minutes) and in the relic baud a number of figures on the contemporary political stage are burlesqued. Tweedledum and Tweedledee, leaders of the Irrational Party, are accompanied by Mr. Simple, with several pairs of running shoes, Mrs. Sox Billyboy, an Amazon and interested in flora and fauna, Mickey, the Super Savage, Mr. Wotta Hash, and a Communistic trio. The ancient sage introduces the savages to the "Feelies,” and other mysteries of 372 A.F., and the Savages In return endeavour to resurrect the archaic institution of Pbrliament. The centre of the stage is taken by the Siamese Twins, and in criticism it may be asked why such prominence is given to two figures who departed the centra] arena of politics in November, 1935. A lot has happened since then and the extravaganza is out of step with the times when it makes such colourless figures of the Chief Savage ana Mr. Hash. Mr. F. D Christensen and Mr. 11. S. V. Simpson, however, go over exceedingly well as the twins and in the “Marriage Song” (with Miss Berys Ball ns Anne Howe, a very modern miss), and the “Song of the Sial meso Twins,” the audience is captivated.

Mr. A. T. S. McGrie has the fino presence, the lean and hungry look, and the proper amount of aloofness of ‘.he Shavian sage. Mr. D. M. Hatterly reproduces some of the sparkle of a well-known Cabinet Minister, and Miss A. M. McGhie makes a good Amazonian. One of the features of the show is the excellent work of the ballet, which attains an exceptional standard for a student production. The choruses of the Decanting Girls and the Student Chorus were also well appreciated. Miss Ball and the Decanting Girls and Savages present something original in the “Feelie Song,” and the Communistic trio's best effort was in "You May Talk About Your Gases.” The extravaganza, it may be added, ends after much plotting and a mock election campaign, in the annihilation of the Savages. "Brave New Zealand,” produced by Mr. W. J. Mountjoy, inn., was a credit to him. "Cappicade” will be presented again tonight ami finally to-morrow night.