| Voyage
of the Venturer
An Appreciation by KEN JOHNSTONE
This is not " Boy Scout " nor is it an adaptation
of " The Gang Show," though it is the creation of
Ralph Reader whose work on a wide canvas of Youth has endeared
him to the British Public.
It has been labelled a " Mammoth Musical Spectacle,"
and, unlike some Hollywoodisms, this description bears closer
scrutiny. It is mammoth. (The Oxford Dictionary denotes mammoth
as (i) a large extinct elephant and (ii) huge. Unquestionably
we mean the latter.) For nearly two thousand performers is
no mere concert party; it is, in fact, one of the largest
productions ever staged at the Royal Albert Hall. When the
" Voyage of the Venturer " was first produced here,
just two years ago, one newspaper called it " a feast
of colour and entertainment."
It is a musical spectacle. There are eight big song numbers,
and, threading the story together, the engaging " Sail
On, 0 Venturer". The medieval settings, including the
magnificence of an Arabian Palace, bring a recurring splash
of technicolour across this famous arena. There is action,
song and movement — movement that is precise and professional
yet gay and robust.
And the story is very simple, as old as the hills really,
yet all the stronger for that. A continuous narration helps
you to follow it, and, as your mind knits this in with the
action down in the arena, your thoughts may be lured into
all sorts of fleeting excursions. For the story deals with
the basic values of Life itself.
It's an assignment fraught with snares to write about ideals
— about good and fine things and Ralph admits that this
script was tough to write. Yet he has this unfailing advantage.
He can get hold of you by the lapels, and spellbind you in
the sheer joy of watching a master craftsman at work. Small
wonder that John Barber in the Daily Express wrote after the
premiere in 1956, " The Venturer sails to triumph."
The story centres on a Wise Old King whose three fine sons
present him with the problem of a successor. He hits on the
idea of sending them on a voyage of adventure — to discover
themselves as it were — and to prove to his own satisfaction
which is worthy of the crown. So Prince Paul, Prince Galliad
and Prince David set sail — and you'll feel almost sea-sick
as you observe the good ship " Venturer," at anchor
in the arena. There is a tremendous battle when pirates attack
them later and set fire to it.
David, whose adventures now occupy most of the action, is
captured, but a dark-skinned stowaway whom he had befriended
earlier on the voyage, comes to his rescue in a fine piece
of drama. The man who first wrote that bit about hearing the
pin drop must somehow have seen a preview of this scene.
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