THE CANTERBURY PLAYERS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25741, 1 March 1949, Page 6

THE CANTERBURY PLAYERS

Successful Season In Australia FULL HOUSES AFTER CRITICS’ NOTICES “I admit we felt a bit cheeky in daring to take a students’ dramatic company to play in Australia during the summer vacation, but the wonderful reception we received everywhere makes us confident that such visits could be arranged regularly,” said Mr M. L. McGlashan. stage manager of the Canterbury Players, who has returned ahead of the others. Under the direction of Miss Ngaio Marsh, the company presented “Othello” and “Six Characters in Search of an Author.” In Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne, the opening night houses were fair, but the very favourable reviews and public comment then drew full audiences, Mr McGlashan said. Audience s were by no means confined to university people. In the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, seating about 1200, each play was given for one week.- In the Albert Hall, cf Canberra, there was one night of each play, and in a threeweeks’ season in the Melbourne University Theatre the plays were alternated' at intervals of three nights. The association with the Sydney and Melbourne University Drama Societies (called, from their initials, “Suds” and “Muds”) had been a stimulating experience and it was hoped that an Australian siudents' dramatic company would visit New Zealand next summer. Mr McGlashan said.

The theft of properties immediately before the Sydney opening had not been solved, he said. The general assumption was that some person had become annoyed at the company’? good reception. Three of Othello’s costumes, one of Cassio’s, some personal clothing, and records borrowed from the Australian Broadcasting Commission were taken. The loss was discovered at 7 p.m. and hurrie'd arrangements had to be made for substitutes. Othellb was naked from the waist up in the last act. Next morning, the wardrobe mistress, Miss Monica Mead, bought material in Sydney and had new costumes ready for the second performance. The records of specially-prepared incidental music by Douglas L ilburn were not touched, those lost being intended for front-of-house music. Mr McGlashan, himself, had some busy days. He used half a mile of wire in installing special stage lighting in Sydney and three-quarters of a mile in Canberra. After the last Sydney show, he worked on packing all through the night, flew to Canberra in the early morning, and worked solidly for most of three days and nights installing properties and lighting and making the changes for two shows on succeeding nights. There was then packing and loading for Melbourne next day. The Melbourne University Theatre was as perfect as any® player could wish—a fully-rigged model theatre with every facility, he said. It was part of the Students’ Union building. Bernard Kearns, of the company, will remain in Melbourne for radio work. Brigid Lenihan, John Knight, and Robert Stead will go on to England for dramatic study. The others will leave Australia for New Zealand on Friday.