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Bernard Holibar
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Bernard Holibar has lived in
West Auckland for most of his life. He has been involved with the
theatre for over sixty years both in writing, directing and conducting
of musicals and plays. His crime novel "Corpse de Ballet" draws on this
experience as a background and his other writing has included
prize-winning short stories and poetry. |
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"A New Zealand
Family at War" Set: A living room in outer suburbs of Auckland, between September 1939 and May 1945. Characters: Six. William, father, about 73; Air Raid Warden, late sixties; Eddy, William's 19yr-old, elder son; Paul, 13yr-old, younger son; Emily, 53yr-old wife; Jean, 18yr-old daughter. Synopsis: William, a World War I veteran, has emigrated to New Zealand. Emily thinks this has brought the family clear of war so is horrified when her first-born joins up after the outbreak of World War II. While we follow Eddy's war vicariously the family at home deals with conditions in their own way. As the youngsters mature the family dynamics alter considerably. Themes: War and its results on those at home. Conflict between duty to country and duty to family. Mother love verging on the obsessive. Maturing of youngsters creates conflict with parents and with each other. |
Double
Elopement A Victorian Comic Opera, Original Music. First Performed 1951 then 1952, 1965 (revised version) 1987 by different groups. One set: Outside the Fox and Goose
Inn, Lower Slaughter, Worcestershire, England.
Characters:
Nine with both singing and speaking, four mostly speaking, two
children's parts plus chorus and dancers.
Snobbery
is one of the main themes.
Synopsis: Frank Farley has his daughter, Sheila, well-educated in order to rise above her station. When an older, impoverished aristocrat, Baron Coffer, appears, Frank seizes the opportunity to arrange a marriage. Egged on by Lady Fandermere, an impossibly snobbish local gentlewoman, Frank proceeds with his plans. But Sheila's heart is already given to Cyril Margent, an artist. Supported by Marie, her fake French maid, and most of the servants and villagers Sheila and Cyril plan their escape. Walter, Cyril's friend, persuades Marie to join him to make it a Double Elopement. |
| Mission
in Space An
operetta satirising space odysseys.
First
performed in concert version 1985. Then fully staged (with Arts Council
grant) 1986.
Three sets: 1. Bishop Bongo's Study,
Earth. 2. Throne Room of Palace on the planet Pars. 3.Outside a
Male Brothel. Pars 4. A bare room in a castle. Pars.
Characters: Four
male singing/speaking, three female singing/speaking Two
females speaking only, plus chorus.
The
prologue takes place on Earth where the Bishop is sending two
missionaries to convert Mars. On the way, their spaceship is hijacked
and taken to the twin planet, Pars. Here besides most things being
back-to-front, the rulers have based their morals on Boccaccio's
"Decameron". The two missionaries enter this hostile
and lascivious environment facing a sadistic execution until
both King Gnik and his daughter, Princess Ssecnirp take a fancy to the
Earthlings. A rebellion, based on reforming Pars' wayward lifestyle,
embroils both missionaries but trickery soon restores the hedonistic
ambience.
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Sleeping Beauty: A Pantomime, but not following the British pattern. While much humour is added, the fairytale element remains strong. Original music including some dances. Performed
in 1949, 1950 and 1987 by different groups.
Set: Great Hall of the King's
palace. Locality can be adapted.
Characters: Six singing/acting
parts, six speaking parts, several small speaking parts which can be
doubled, and chorus.
Plot
follows the fairytale to a large extent but has humorous scenes between
the henpecked king and his bossy wife, a quarrel between the ladies in
waiting and the anachronistic appearance of a cowboy.
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| Cinderella Another non-traditional Pantomime with original music.Instead of magic, logic explains the events. Performed
1990.
Set: Act One, Baron Oddfella's
Great Hall, Act Two, Ballroom at the Palace; Baron Oddfella's Hall
again.
Characters: Five female
singing/speaking parts, four female small speaking parts. Five
singing/speaking male parts. Plus chorus.
Synopsis:
The usual fairy tale is fairly closely adhered to except - the Prince decides to test the characters of prospective brides by disguising himself as his own herald. He quickly sums up the ugly sisters who treat him with disdain. He arranges that all get their comeuppance by employing two yokels to take the place of himself and his chancellor. And Cinders' ball-gown does not rely on magic to be ready on time. |
Pirate
Shippe Petticoat One Act parody of Gilbert and Sullivan Using Sullivan's music (some adapted), some of Gilbert's words and themes from Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore and The Sorcerer. This forms a good curtain-raiser. Performed 1968, 1980 and 1986. Set aboard Pirate Shippe Petticoat where female pirates rule the waves. Characters: Pirate Queen, Judy (inefficient cook) and chorus of girl pirates, three of whom have small speaking parts; Pirate King; Dick (cabin boy) and chorus of male pirates. Synopsis:
The Male Pirates, jealous that the girls have carried all before them use their masculine strength to board their shippe and subdue the cheeky females. But the domineering Queen uses feminine wiles to turn the tables. However, the love potion she has served to the men backfires a little leaving her down-trodden cook the apple of the King's eye while she, herself, must be content with the cabin boy. |
| Stage Fright: Commended in PANZ 2008 50th Anniversary Competition, comedy section. One Act farcical comedy with over-the-top characters. Set
in a radio station studio. Auckland.
Characters:
Two females/two males.
Synopsis: Benedict, a nervous young
author, has just had his book "Nietzche and Nazism" published.
His publisher is preparing him for a radio interview with vicious English reviewer, Mirabelle Montreuse, and he is terrified. After much bumbling he finally breaks out of his shell. Things become more confused when a female intruder bursts into the studio. |