Down on the farm, up on the College stage

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 498, 10 August 1993, Page 9

Down on the farm, up on the College stage

The major drama production for 1993 for Ruapehu College is the musical 'Footrot Flats'. Based on the well-known characters created by Murray Ball, this is a fulllength musical comedy revealing life down on the farm at Raupo, the typical New Zealand country town that has Wai Footrot and his mates on its doorstep. The show is full of lively music written by Phillip Norman with

lyrics by A K Grant. The book that the play is based on was written by Roger Hall. With such a talented team of New Zealand's top writers, this show has something for everyone. All of Murray Ball's characters are here. There is Wai, complete with black singlet and gumboots and the manners you would expect of a man of the land. There is Cheeky Hobson, Wall's girlfriend, with her love

of the town and insouciant about country life. Then there is Aunt Dolly, who thinks she can control Wai and the farm as well. And, there is Cooch, the environmentalist who will not cut down a tree even if it is growing through the floor of his house. Then there are the animals. The most famous of all is Dog, the sly, cunning, brave animal with many dreams and skills that only he

knows about and who desperately works to protect Wai from the charms of Cheeky Hobson. There is Jess, Dog's girlfriend, constantly protected from Dog by Cooch. There is Horse, the farm cat that is able to terrify Dog and everyone else on the farm. There is Prince Charles, Aunty Dolly's corgi, who is out of place in the hard working environment of the farm. There is also a likeable collection of other farm

animals including Cecil the Ram and a flock of ewes. This production is one of the most ambitious productions Ruapehu College has attempted. The Producer and Director, Shelagh Buck, has had a mammoth task co-ordinating the many aspects of the show. Jude Knight and Gavin Herdman are responsible for the music and the small orchestra. Costume and technical props have been hired from theatrical companies and other agencies as far away as Auckland. The set has been skilfully constructed by the father and son team of Harry and Lindsay Cast. There will be a public performance of the production each night from Wednesday 18 August to Friday 20 August at Ruapehu College Hall. Tickets will be available at the College from Wednesday 11 August. Seats are not expensive: $5 for Adults, $3 for students. Each performance commences at 7.30pm. "This production of 'Footrot Flats' promises to be the theatrical highlight of the year," says Mrs Buck. "For a really fun evening and an opportunity to observe country life as you have never seen it before, this is not a show to miss". The eternal secrets of Murray Ball's characters

may finally be revealed. What is Dog's real name? Can Aunty Dolly really cook? Is Wai and Cheeky 's relationship go-

ing to last? The only way to find out is to come to 'Footrot Flats' for an evening you will not forget for a long time.