Dummies evicted over shopfront stunt

ROBERT KITCHIN/Dominion Post

NOT FUNNY: Anne-Marie Vennel is sad for Wellington that the Revolt of the Mannequins arts festival display was kicked out.

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The owner of a store hosting a Revolt of the Mannequins arts festival display spat the dummy after finding it suggested that the shop was closing down.

The Sydney owner of the David Lawrence clothing stores staged a revolt of his own on Friday, forcing the French Royal de Luxe street theatre company to take the mannequins out of his store front.

The theatre company is disappointed with the move, saying: "A world without humour and poetry will not live long."

David Lawrence owner Malcolm Webster is understood to be concerned that the festival display included a large sign saying "closing down sale", which had nothing to do with the operation of his shop.

The theatre company's assistant artistic director, Anne-Marie Vennel, said through an interpreter yesterday that she felt deeply sad for the people of Wellington that the display had been closed down.

Mr Webster was flying to Sydney last night and could not be reached for comment.

Festival artistic director Lissa Twomey said her staff had done the window display deal with David Lawrence management staff in Australia. "Friday's development with the owner was unforeseen."

Twenty Royal de Luxe staff members travelled from Nantes to Wellington this month to rotate about 40 mannequins involved in the exhibition on a nightly basis.

The display, which included windows at Pearl, Robyn Mathieson, Staxs, Portmans, Borders, Unity Collection, Farmers and Kirkcaldie & Stains, finished last night.

One, a smoky comic fire brigade display at Robyn Mathieson in Featherston St, resulted in false alarm calls to the Fire Service yesterday.

"The calls caused us no grief," a Fire Service spokesman said.

- © Fairfax NZ News