NOTABLE WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22398, 20 April 1936, Page 11

NOTABLE WORK

BED-BIDDEN PRODUCES BRIGHT PANTOMIME STAGED CRIPPLES' FUND BENEFITS The ambition of a young crippled woman, Miss Jeanne Mannix, bedridden at the Auckland Infirmary for ten years, to produce a play, was realised when she staged at the Town Hall concert chamber on Saturday night a fairy pantomime, "Goldylocks and the Three Bears," a gay and tuneful production with a cast of 36 performers, mostly juveniles. As a result of her effort, over £6O was raised for the Crippled Children Fund.

Taken to the concert chamber from the infirmary in a St. John ambulance on Saturday morning, Miss Mannix remained at the side of the stage throughout the matinee and evening performances. From her wheeled-bed behind the scenes, this courageous young woman took the leading part ill all the choruses.

Before she became ill, Miss Mannix was keenly interested in amateur theatrical enterprises of all kinds. Being bed-ridden would dampen the ardour of the average would-be producer, but not so Miss Mannix. From the time of the inauguration of the Crippled Children Fund she had been very keen to try to raise some money and decided to stage the pantomime.

Since the beginning of February the young producer conducted regular rehearsals at her bedside at the infirmary. At all times she received wholehearted co-operation from the superintendent, Dr. C. E. Maguire, and the staff. She also received great assistance from business firms in the city, there being many substantial donations of stage equipment, confectionery, ice cream and incidentals. The City Council lent the hall free of charge, and the production was staged entirely free of cost to the producer, everv service rendered being voluntary.

Speaking in the absence of the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, Mr. W. G. Mulholland, a member of the Auckland Hospital Board, said that the producing of a well-staged and polished pantomime by a bed-ridden young woman was a remarkable achievement probably unparalleled in the history of the stage and theatre in New Zealand. The play would have been a credit to any producer, so well was every item and part rehearsed. Miss Mannix's work had iesulted in the raising of £6O for a most deserving cause.