ICE SHOW

Evening Star, Issue 23525, 14 March 1940, Page 13

ICE SHOW

BUILDING RINK ON STAGE Intricate and complicated process ' The provision of a genuine ice skating rink on the stage of an ordinary playhouse is not done at five minutes notice; indeed, the formation of the ice alone requires two full days, while a : longer, period is called for the in ® t . a £ lation of engines and equipment wnien will. ultimately provide the ideal skating surfaces demanded by the star per- • formers of such an un Usual show as ‘ Switzerland,’ the. J. C. Williamson ice-skating production, which opens in Dunedin on Saturday night. The “rink” itself is of no mean ' proportions; in fact, as a ‘ Star reporter found on visiting His Majesty s Theatre this morning, practically the . whole of the stage is called into use, : there being only a narrow passageway at the rear of the rink to permit performers, to move to their entrances, and almost equally narrow strips in the wing*.' The rink, which measures 40ft by 30ft, extends into the wings. No ice was to be seen this morning, and none will be seen until to-night, when the fink will begin to take definite shape. In the meantime, the gigantic base for the rink, a base. which is an amazing and intricate thing of pipe* and hose, was being built up. The ice, is formed to a depth of from 3ia to 3iin on top of four level insu- ' dated slabs, over which waterproof sheetings are Spread. More than a mile of copper piping is laid over the sheetings, and through the pipes circulates 3,000 gallons of brine every hour. The brine is cooled .to a temperature of dSdeg. Fahrenheit, and is circulated through the pipes continuously, there not being a stoppage at any time in 24 hours. The refrigerating gas, which is used, to circulate the brine, is something new, being non-inflammable and non-toxic, so that there is ■ no danger should' qny 'mishap occur. When the brine has been set in circulation, two and a-half tons of crushed ice—bought locally—are spread between .the pipes and level with them. This-forms a firm and lasting base. Water 'is next sprayed on top of the crushed ice, it, taking about 48 hours r to provide a smooth and perfect skating surface. This spraying has to be kept up continuously 'so that the surface' never deteriorates. During the show itself it is necessary to renew the surface as the skaters cut it and leave snow,' which has to be scraped off. However, the ice portion of the show is broken by a cabaret interlude, duriitg which advantage is taken to renew ice. Actually, the skating in the entire show lasts about SO minutes. ‘ When the cabaret scenes come on between the ice interludes the fink is completely covered over by boards, thus restoring the original stage to a nominal, appearance, -Actually, however, this'.makeshift floor stage will stand about Bin higher than the normal stage, but otherwise an audience would find 'it hard to detect any difference. The equipment, bulky and involved though it is, has been proved the most . satisfactory portable ice rink gear yet evolved. The tank equipment alone weighs seven and a-half tons, while the engines responsible for the refrigeration, weigh five and-a-half tons. The. company has to tour, with two complete seta *;of equipment, for while the show ..J* flaying in:Oue,Fe r ntre the technicians are busy in another centre preparing thU -Stage there. ‘ Switzerland ’ is at present playing in Invercargill, and because of the time necessary to install the rink, it would mean either the curtailment of the southern season or the .postponement of the local season if •only one - rink were in use.' When the “ Invercargill season,ends to-morrow the equipment will be sent to Palmerston North, and near the end of the Dunedin season, will be set up there. Five technicians are in charge of the engines working the refrigeration, and some of these men are on shift duty all the'time. The machinery must never he allowed to stop running, or a thaw, ■which might bo dangerous to the skaters, would at once set in. In one theatre the man in charge—he was taken on in the town played—fell asleep in charge of the machinery, which stopped. The result of his carelessness was discovered just in time, but even so, the surface of ice which was available for the next show was less than it should have been. Everywhere the company has played it has been greeted by record seasons. In England the show played two performances a day for 18 months, and there was never a hitch. The necessity for putting in the rink days beforehand sometimes caused the ice technicians to tread on the heels of a show just leaving for another theatre. Oil one occasion the ice rink was installed just at the close of a circus show,, and ’the,huge rink had to be set in position as Well as possible under the noses of caged lions, tigers, and other animals. Tim jungle beasts resented the hammering of the men and roared continuously; and the men resented the presence of the animals mainly because ,of the, acute stench which arose from the cages, while the animals moved restlessly about. No difficulty in obtaining crushed ice has been met with anywhere. In the hottest countries this essential base has been easiest procured. . ■ When, the season ends in any one centre the ice is not melted, but is broken up, and carried away to be dumped. During the.season any, water which may form is drained away through pipes so that there is' never any question of there being any mess about. The show is as cleanly conducted as any ordinary stage show.