Marionette Theatre

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1947, Page 4

Marionette Theatre

“I always hold up the wooden actors as instructive object lessons to our flesh and blood players. .The wooden ones, though stiff and continually glaring at you with the same overcharged expression, yet move you as only the most experienced living actors can.’’ Whangarei residents will "have the opportunity of bearing out the truth of this statement by George Bernard Shaw concerning marionette theatres, when on Wednesday next, the Goodwin Marionette Theatre will, under the direction of the Whangarei Community Art Service, present William Shakespeare's “The Tempest.” and Kenneth Graham's “The Reluctant Dragon.” Marionettes were originally little images of the Virgin, and first mention of them appears in Guillaume Boucher (1584).

Figures with jointed limbs have been discovered in tombs in ancient Egypt, where they were used in the feasts of Osiris. They were known in Etruria, Rome, Greece. India. Burma, China and Java. Introduced from Italy to France, under Charles IX.. and thence to England they are alluded to by Chaucer. Shakespear. Pope and The Tatlcr (1709) and the Spectator (1711). Bartholomew Fair was famed for the marionettes, as was Brone’s Theatre of Arts (1830-40). LIFELIKE ACTING Ah ancient Burmese marionette has been on view in Messrs R. G. Hosj king’s window during this week. The Goodwin Marionettes is the first I permanent company in New Zealand devoting itself entirely to the perfection of the puppet stage Formed some seven years ago, at the beginning of the war, the theatre has achieved considerable success and received an enthusiastic following. Travelling throughout the country during the war years the company played to army, navy and air force stations —to schools and anywhere an interest in the living theatre had been expressed.

People who have seen the performance of the company remark that the acting of the marionettes is so lifelkie that it is extremely hard to realise the actors are wooden and not flesh and blood.

The stories presented are interesting and the Community Art Service in Whangarei has, by arranging this visit chosen presentations which will “Bring children from their play and old men from the chimney corner.”