LARGE AUDIENCE BUT PLAYS SPOILT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31108, 11 July 1966, Page 14

LARGE AUDIENCE BUT PLAYS SPOILT

The Aranui Little Theatre’s three-one act plays attracted a large audience on Saturday, night. But if the steadily growing audiences are evidence of success in public relations, the pedestrian fare offered on stage can give the group little cause for satisfaction.

Basic weaknesses in stagecraft spoilt all three plays. Characters were placed so far back that they were barely audible and their acting seemed remote. Sets, even the ambitious and attractive setting for the last play, were all square to the footlights and disappeared off the large stage, instead of helping to bring the actors together. Lighting facilities appear to be quite sufficient to allow light to be used to focus attention on acting areas and to

create atmosphere. The first play, “Reprieve for an Angel,” has been seen several times before: it is surprising that the author has not used this valuable opportunity to revise her dialogue and re-design the climax. The young people in the cast, especially Sue Garters, Craig Ashley and Robin Queree, come close to, but only close to, an acceptable natural acting style.

“On Dartmoor” is a neat little comedy in which two women with advanced ideas on prison reform are duped by those they try to help, and so revert to a more conventional approach to escaped convicts. This play had some pace, acceptable—if theatrical —characterisations, and a well engineered climax: a creditable first production for Norma Anderson.

Eve Hughes’ “The Overseas Expert” is a rather topical historical tragi-comedy about the building of the Taj Mahal. They ran competitions, chose the best designs, and called in an overseas expert to help them make up their minds — maybe town hall’s are child’s play after all. Alex Aitcheson’s production was stylish, but once again, the action needed to come well forward. Bryan Hawkey was as Bondish as a 17th century Englishman could be, Denzil Downs was vigorous—perhaps a little too like the silent movies. Competent as ever, Shirley Duffy was not quite as positive with her voice as usual. Bill Derrett worked hard and both Lane Hunt and Lyndsay Campbell captured one’s attention.

A pleasant enough evening, then, but one which left the feeling that this was family entertaiment for very unsophisticated families. —P.R.S.

Harrier Team.—The Auckland cross-country team to compete In the first New Zealand women’s championship at New Plymouth on August 13 is:—M. Sampson (captain), L. Watt, M. Monigatti, L. Larnen, M. Knight, C. Hartnell.