Memories of Childhood
by John Appleby

~ 19 ~

The crowning thrill of the summer season was the arrival of a troupe of pierrots. Now these people would arrive in the village, workmen would appear on the beach and immediately the word would get around. All the children in the village would begin to get excited about this, because we knew that when these men were digging holes and sinking posts into the ground, they were going to build an elevated hut of white pinewood, fronted by a stage. In due course the concerts began, afternoon and evening. Fred and I would tag along behind a motley crowd of girls with their little brothers, and brothers with their little sisters.

Winnie had a little friend called Tomasina Robinson and they were the leaders. They would take up positions in front of the stage long before the show was due to start, we would all dig a long hole and the girls would fashion elaborate sofas and arm chairs out of damp sand. There we would all sit in luxury at the front. The crowds would increase and excitement mount as the troupers arrived and the piano was wheeled on to the stage. This little troupe wore one piece voluminous orange costumes with black ruffles at neck and ankle and heavy make-up.

The comedian's name was Billy Blackburn and Jimmy Young was the other one of the comedy duo. Maisie Taylor was the dancer, a slim blonde lady and all we boys fell in love with her. They had a mezzo-soprano and a baritone who used to sing "The Road to Mandalay". They had solos and duets and highly comical sketches, of which I remember quite a few snatches of the dialogue and situations. The promenade, newly built, served as an ideal viewpoint above the stage. Half way through each performance there would be an interval, somebody would play the piano and the amazing Billy Blackburn would circulate, minus comical hat, through the crowd, with a jingling collection box. This signalled a diminishing of the audience.

We became disillusioned, because this magic white faced figure with the arched black eyebrows was, when seen in close up, a perspiring cigarette smoking dark-shaven fellow, smelling slightly of beer. I think our dreams were shattered when he walked amongst the crowd. The troupe must have relied on these donations, and I think they lived in boarding houses in the village. It was a wonderfully exciting experience for us children to get our first taste of live theatre as it were.

© 2003 John Appleby, New Zealand

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