BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 46, 26 November 1952, Page 4

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

When the Community Arts Service Theatre brought "Beauty and the Beast" to Taupo last Wednesday, it was described on the programme as "A Children's Play." It was cleax from start of the performance that the children who had the privilege of enjoying the seats right under the ptage were thrilled by it, but there were many older "children" with greying hair in the seats behind them who gained every whit as much enjoyment from the evening's entertainment. The story of the Wizard, who by his magic. incarcerated the Prince in a castle for twenty years, and then forgot him for five hundred years, in which time he had become a "beast"; how Beauty came to his castle and looked after him, and how finally he became a prince again, held the children enthralled for over two hours. The older members of the audience thoroughly enjoyed the first class acting of the players and the swing with which the whole proceedings were carried through. Barry Linehan, as Hodge, the Wizard, pronouncing spells with the quavering voice of age and weaving plots that always went astray was a charming muddler who stood out for the excellence of his characterisation. His nephew Mikey, the young dragon, played by Tom Kneebone, was no doubt, the favourite of the youngsters, for in spite of the 500 years which passed between his

appearance as a youthful dragon in the ifrst scene, and the action of the rest of the play, he Jretained the bounce and vivacity of his youth. But it is little wonder that he f ound it tiring flying from the Castle to Mr Clement's house and back again. To the part of Jane, better known as Beauty, Eleanor Elliott brought her usual polish and pois. Roy Patrick, was perhaps more convineing as the Beast than as the Prince, but he played an unenviable part very well indeed. Noeline Pritchard and Cecily Balmon made two very vivacious though foolish ddughters to Clement, played by Kenneth Akerman. Not the least enjoyable part of the play was the manner by which the change of each scene was conveyed to the audience by each member of the cast in turn coming on to the stage and making his announcement in character with his own part. This pilay concludes the C.A.S. wogramme for 1952, and the presid°nf, of the loeal committee, Mr P. Lowery stated that at present o information was available regard:ng next veir's tourinr schedule.