COMEDY AND DRAMA

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 75, Issue 6394, 11 July 1947, Page 4

COMEDY AND DRAMA

TWO MARIONETTE PERFORMANCES PLAYS OF CONTRAST It can be said that the Goodwin Marionette Theatre attained more than a modest success with a presentation of two puppet plays in the Empire Theatre on Wednesday eveping, under the aegis of Community Arts Service. This was the theatre’s first visit to Te Awamutu, and expressions of approval voiced By members of the audience indicated that when the town is again favoured with a visit from this talented and enterprising gToup of artists, in a presentation of the French drama, “The Sulky Fire”, a cordial and appreciative welcome will be extended to them.

A large “house” greeted the players on Wednesday evening, despite the inclemencies of the weather which must have discouraged many who would otherwise have availed themselves of the opportunity of attending a show 1 so out of the ordinary. In addition to the puppets themselves, five players take part in the performances of the Goodwin Marionette theatre, namely, Miss Freda Cosher, Messrs Arnold Goodwin, Bruce McCombe, Rae Griffiths, and Neville Goodwin.

The two presentations of the evening were enacted in a miniature “play-house” of the orthodox type, which is for all practical purposes, “a stage upon a stage”. The little performers were clearly visible from all parts of the theatre, but unfortunately the limiting effect of the loudspeaker system was such that the manipulators’ voices were not always clearly audible. A Humorous Parody

A humorous' parody on the fable of “St. George and the Dragon” occupied the first part of the programme. It was early apparent that the principals of the theatre go to a great deal of trouble in making the presentations attractive, and the beautiful background and stage settings, brilliantly illuminated with an almost “technicolour” effect, were most pleasing to the eye. Obviously also, meticulous care had been paid to the costuming of the little figures, and so realistic were their portrayals that it was easy to imagine them invested with a personality of their own. A delightfully ludicrous touch was the simulation of the modern “art” of smoking, on the part of the aristocratic “St. George”! Presented with accompanying music from “Peter and the Wolf” (Prokafieff), “The Reluctant Dragon” is a play based on a story by Kenneth Grahame, dramatised by Lord Howard De Walden, and arranged for puppet presentation by the Goodwin Marionette theatre. “The Tempest” The main feature of the evening, an abridged interpretation of William Shakespeare’s play, “The Tempest”, was more difficult from the point of view of both artists and audience, as could be expected, than was the, preliminary work. The players showed fine artistry in this ambitious production, but although the play became clearer as the story unfolded, the inclusion of a brief synopsis of the story on the otherwise excellent programme sheets, would have enabled an audience less familiar with Shakespearean productions than are those of larger centres, to have followed the play more readily. Like “Macbeth”, this drama ruthlessly brings to light the more elemental emotions of humanity, and its adaptation to a world of miniatures is, to say the least, a most creditable. achievement for all connected with the production; from the designers and modellers of the realistic little figures, to the lighting, scenic, and manipulative artists.

Outstanding portrayals were achieved .by the artists through the medium of “Prospero” the banished Duke of Milan, his daughter “Miranda”, and the dignified “Alonso”, King of Naples. Humorous relief was provided by the antics of “Trinculo” the jester, and a drunken butler, “Stephano”. One of the most difficult parts was that of an eerie sprite, “Ariel”; a part which, if unconvincingly portrayed, could easily have ruined the performance.

A fine selection of incidental music added to the skillful “stage-manage-ment” of the whole programme, and the members of the theatre were warmly applauded at the conclusion of the show for their sensitively executed presentations. It would be no mere decoration of the facts to claim that anyone who went away dissatisfied with the evening’s programme, must have been singularly difficult to please!