Honours for ‘Mr Theatre’
‘‘Maybe there’s room for two Sir Patricks in the city.’’ Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith, in celebrating theatre director Pat Snoxell’s 90th birthday, suggested there should be a further knight of the same name to complement Sir Patrick Higgins.
Smith attended a Regent Trust Board function to celebrate Snoxell’s milestone and praised him for his near 60-year involvement in theatre, as a director and administrator.
Snoxell was a driving force behind the restoration of the Regent in 1998 and has served ‘‘20 years on the trot’’ as a member of the Regent Trust Board.
‘‘Pat has made a huge contribution to business, theatre and entertaining people,’’ Smith said.
About 100 guests attended the function which included a surprise performance of songs from shows Snoxell directed at the Regent.
Snoxell reminisced over the shows he’s directed in the Manawatu¯ and throughout New Zealand since 1962. When he started, he was a dairy farmer but, within a few years, he hired a sharemilker so he could concentrate on theatre.
He recalled after directing Calamity Jane in 1968, inebriated male members of the cast followed him home to help with milking. While they learned how to put the cups on the teats, they sent the cows into the wrong paddocks and the animals got milked several times over.
Many guests paid tribute to Snoxell, both formally and informally.
‘‘Pat’s been a mentor to me as a performer, director and stage manager,’’ Alan Williams said.
Bruce Warwick, appointed Regent manager in 1998, said Snoxell was a great director, personality and friend to many.
Anne Merriman, who played leading roles from the 1960s through to the 80s, recalled the enjoyment she received being a starring member of a company Snoxell toured throughout the Manawatu¯ and beyond.
Regent manager Charles Forbes spoke of his long involvement with the director.
‘‘It’s been a wonderful journey and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.’’
Regent Trust Board chairman David Lea, described Snoxell as ‘‘Mr Theatre’’.
‘‘When I first auditioned 40 years ago, Pat was seen as a god, a guru, and he became my mentor.’’
Lea praised him for giving his heart and soul to musical theatre and being an inspiration.
Of the many shows he directed, Snoxell said his favourite was Fiddler on the Roof. Soloists and ensemble sang If I Were a Rich Man and the Sabbath Prayer from the show as part of their programme.