ENGLISH STAGE PLAYERS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25608, 24 September 1948, Page 6

ENGLISH STAGE PLAYERS

Personalities in Old Vic Company

EXPERIENCE IN NOTED FILMS

While the name of the Old Vic Company now in Christchurch is practically synonymous to the general public with those of its principals, Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, it includes many other players who have already achieved note in the British theatre world.

The company is surprisingly young. The average age of actors aid stage management staff is estimated by Miss Elsie Beyer, general manager tor the tour, at about 24 or 25. There, are 16 actors and ,eight actresses. With stage a master carpenter, chief electrician, property master, wardrobe mistress, master painter, orchestra Conductor, and business managers, the company roll reaches 40. Most were bbrn in England and all received their stage training in the United Kingdom.

Mr David Kentish, the stage director, is only 24. While the show is on he is in command, and people much nis senior freely acknowledge the success he has made of the job. A few of the players have a long association with the English stage. Eileen Beldon (Mrs Candour in "The School for Scandal”) did some of her early stage work at the Old Vic under the direction of Lilian Bayliss. Sne was trained at the Birmingham Repertory. George Relph (Sir Oliver Surface) and his wife, Mercia Swinburne (Lady Sneerwell), have also had extensive stage experience. As a young man, George Relph toured Australia with Oscar Asche — “a brilliant company, with Asche at the height of his powers.” A favourite play with Relph and his wife Is Chekov’s “Uncle Vanya.” They both enjoy playing Shaw, but Miss Swinburne prefers Shakespeare because, she says, his women characters are more interesting. Promise of Brilliance

Two young men who appear to have brilliant careers before them are Peter Cushing and Terence Morgan. They play the Surface Brothers in “The School for Scandal,” and both had parts in Sir Laurence Olivier’s film of “Hamlet.”

Mr Cushing went to Hollywood about 10 years ago, and played a leading role in the Carole Lombard —Brian Aherne film, “Vigil in the Night.” The war brought him back to Britain, where ne has resumed his stage career. Mr Morgan had his West End debut in 1943 in Robert Sherwood’s “There Shall Be No Night.” He first met the Oliviers two years later, when he took part in-the initial London production of "The Skin of Our Teeth.” Twenty-five-year-old Anne McGrath plays the child Prince of Wales in “Richard III.” She has been in the theatre three years, and played with the Liverpool Repertory Company before being chosen for the Old Vic tour of Australia and New Zealand. Miss Peggy Simpson, who plays the role of the young Duke of York, has been on the stage for 16 years. She made her London stage debut as a child in “Peter Pan and Wendy.” Her first film appearande was in “Sunshine Susie.” In addition to Sir Laurence Olivier, nine members of* the present company had a hand in the filming of "Hamlet.” Dan Cunningham. Bernard Merefleld, Thomas Heathcote, Tony Gavin, and James Bailey all figured in the film scenes at Elsmore. Mrs Selby-Walker, the Old Vic’s wardrobe mistress, and Roger Ramsdall, the master painter, were both assistants of the film’s art director, Roger Furse. Travelling with the company is Helen Beck, sister of Roger Beck, associate director of the films “Henry V” and “Hamlet.” and wife of Mr Cushing. She calls the company a big family of brothers and sisters. It is impossible not to sense their team work on the stage, and equally impossible not to sense their team and family spirit behind the scenes.