It's related to the new _htaccess file. Reverting to the old _htaccess but with version 1.4.12 brings the slideshow back to life!
Further:
the addition of
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !(/$|\.)
RewriteRule (.*) %{REQUEST_URI}/ [R=301,L]
is what seems to be causing the problem.
But!
Although reverting to the old _htaccess has displayed the slideshow page there is no "show" - i.e. the slides don't move on automatically. However they do when the "next" control is pressed.