On His Pat

NZ Truth, Issue 1181, 19 July 1928, Page 6

On His Pat

."TJTOTILD you like a spare-time job VV m the evenings, Pat?" This question was put to Pat Brod,rick, of Christchurch, some years ago and as it happened, Pat's answer, 1 'which was "yes," changed the whole course of his later life. ' That spare time' job was at Fuller's Opera House and had something to do with manipulating drop scenes aiid ! other stage paraphernalia. In those days Pat was m the railway service stationed at Addington, but as time , went on the theatre got into his blood. I : However; he did not realize 'how potent was the ' spell which the "boards" were 1 weaving about him, and he made up his mind to go farming. He left the Opera House amid many .regrets. • Farming looked good to him, but ■less than three years later, he, had forsaken the paddock for" the stage once more. ;He became stage manager and to-day lie is caretaker of the brand new New Opera House m which Pat shows great pride. V Get him talking about the old Fuller 'days and he is a wealth of anecdote. An old Rugby player, he used to do battle for Poneke m the late 'eighties when he was stationed m Wellington, I 'and although he is long past the playJing age to-day, there is no keener "fan." .