N.Z. AT CULTURAL CROSSROADS

Northern Advocate, 18 June 1947, Page 8

N.Z. AT CULTURAL CROSSROADS

I “Culturally, New Zealand is at the | crossroads. “Having accepted the moving pictures, which it cannot be denied, have a deserving popularity, are we going to leave entertainment entirely to the picture theatres, or are we going to make an attempt to cater for other types of entertainment?’’ This was a question put today by Mr A. F. Goodwin, drama producer for the Adult Education Centre, whe is visiting Northland with the Goodwin Marionette Theatre. “If we are to have culture in New Zealand it must spring from the urban areas,’’ said Mr Gocdwin. “It is no good having gradiose schemes, such as wishing on to us a national theatre before we are ready for it “We are playing in the outlying centres with little financial return but we are proving the need for cultural entertainments. We cannot extend our activities beyend our present capacity until we have the support of the Government, or vested theatre interests." Mr Goodwin said the movement was not primarily concerned with lpox office returns, but with the work ol taking to the people entertainment of a type which they had long been denied. APPEAL OF MARIONETTES

II Personally he would rather play 111 Shakespeare than Priestly or Cow r ard ffland it had been found during the 111 last six years that Shakespeare app- || | ealed to a wide cross-section of the HI public, including the children, through i=| the medium of the marionette theatre. He believed that marionettes would provide the means for the best in stage entertainment in the future. The puppet shew was being more widely recognised for its faithful portrayals, and people who had seen similar shows overseas had commented that the New Zealand marionette theatre showed greater progress and wider development. Five players are responsible for the | two productions being offered. ' Theirs is not a simple task of man- | ipulation. It is necessary that they should be competent actors, for they) I have to interpret' the roles by voice i as well as directing the movements of ! the puppets. One hour of puppetwerk, he said was as tiring as as three-hour straight performance on the stage. “HOW NAME AROSE” This afternoon pupils of the town primary schools attended a matinee 1 performance of the marionette theatre, and tomorrow morning scholars of the I Whangarei High Schools will see the Marionettes. The Greeks and Romans had marionettes, and they were the major enter- 1 taimnent of medieval days in Italy. ; j From there the art was taken to < I France by a man named Marion. ' hence the name Marionette. Pupnets ! gained wide popularity in Elizabethan , { England, but today are mainly re- I I membered by the performances at * ! every seaside resort of the "Punch and • | Judv" shows. t

, Persons who are interested in | puppets, their construction and manipulation. will find all the information they require at the Whangarei Public ! Library. Here, on a table set aside for the purpose, are books, including "Glove Puppetry." "Masks and Puppets," “How to Make and Manipulate Puppets,” and “Punch and Judy Shows,” which cover all aspects of the art.