MARIONETTE SHOW IN TAUPO

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 25, 2 July 1952, Page 1

MARIONETTE SHOW IN TAUPO

AN INTERESTING PERFORMANCE To many people the word marionettes conveys the impression of tiny puppets, manipulated by strings for the amusement of children. However, residents of Taupo, grown-ups and children alike, were delighted last Tuesday, when they were priviledged to see Mr Arnold Goodwm's Marionette Show at Ricket^s Hall, where he gave both a matinee and an evening performance. During the war years Mr Goodwin with his company visited many camps to entertain soldiers, but unfortunately about three years1 ago his marionettes were practically all burnt in the fire which destroyed the Elam School of Art. The charred remains lay in his garage for a couple of years, then at the request of numerous people he resurrected some of thel ittle figures, furnished them with new wardrobes and once again hrought them to life.

Thus it happened that Taupo residents were fortunate enough to see a most realistie entertainment, and a more charming introduction to a revival of this aiacient art would be hard to find. Assisted by a good selection of musical recordings Mr and Mrs Goodwin put on a most enjoyable programrae. The first part was devoted to vaudeville comrnencing with a portion of the hallet "Peter and the Wolf." Peter and his grandfather were charming little figures — the grandfather being particularly quaint. They were followed by a little Frenehman singing to his lady love. An amusing juggler dressed as a clown chuckled and grunted as he performed some extremely clever tricks with halloons, whilst balancing a bottle on his nose. The puppy and the duck who barked and quacked most realistically were very popular, but the "piece de resistance" was the dance of the Skeleton to music of the negro spiritual "Dry Bones.M This piece was quite the hit of New Zealand's first television experiment last year. The Parson with the Palsy was another turn which brou-ght the house down.

In the second half of the programme, came several scenes from the "Tempest,> which were performed with great skill. Before the fire this was performed almost in full, but the cast of marionettes is now sadly depleted. However the hasis was " told as a 7 background and Prospero the Duke of Milany. Stephano, the drunfcen butler, and Caliban the slave put up a performance that imade you forget that they were "just puppets." The audience was very grateful to Mr Goodwin, not only for bringing his art to Taupo so that we could all see a worthwhile show, but also for his generosity in doing so as an effort to help the town and the R.S.A. in particular to find the funds for its new Memoriai Hall. The remarks of members of the audience certainly showed that it was greatly appreciated.