THE THEATRE AT WORK

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26512, 29 August 1951, Page 3

THE THEATRE AT WORK

British Company At Rehearsal INFORMAL ATTITUDE OF CAST Illusion and reality are two of the main points on which the play, “Six Characters in Search of an Author,” turns. That play, performed by the British Commonwealth Theatre Company, concluded its season in Christchurch last evening, but those two points will be topical as long as there are actors. The gulf between them can best be appreciated by seeing the company at rehearsal and then while it is giving one of its remarkably polished performances. Yesterday the company had a technical rehearsal of “Twelfth Night,” which will open its season this afternoon.

To those unversed in the mysterious craft of the theatre, there would seem, but a slight connexion between the contused activity of the rehearsal and the final presentation of the play, but to see the company at work was to appreciate its competence, and its enthusiasm. Its members worked in an air of complete informality, an informality which went beyond dress to include terms of address. Nearly every one wore slacks, nearly everyone smoked, and nearly everyone seemed to be .everyone's best friend. Yesterday’s rehearsal concentrated on the ends of acts, with the quick changes of scenery demanded by a play in which the curtain never falls. Moving scenery into position and providing suitable lighting and music to co-ordinate with the actors’ cues is no simple task, and much of the timing achieved at the rehearsal will go unnoticed during perlormances—because it will be efficient. The problems are not confined to the stage. There is an operator with an alarming array of switches and buttons, which demand the skill of an orggnist, and a script reduced to something akin to a jigsaw puzzle with instructions for their use.

But those on and off the stage are •’s one in their love of the theatre, in their aim to link the actors of the Dominions with the professional theatre in Britain, and in their admiration for their producer, Miss Ngaio Marsh. Her enthusiasm, skill, and drive Is reflected in the polished per"ormances of the company. At last svening’s presentation, the stage manager, at the end of the first act, commented. almost unbelievingly, “We’re running a minute late.” What private life has an actor? Does he work hard What are his interests? How did he enter'the theatre? Does he live as other people? To most people the theatre is another world. To some extent it is, but the men and women in it are very human people with very ordinary interests.

After the rehearsal yesterday many of the actors and actresses' had interesting stories to tell. The favourite of the company is the six and a months’ , old son of Basil and Ella Henson. In the words of one member of the company he “never says a word out of place.” The baby. Nigel, was born in London the day before the company left for Australia and New Zealand. He has travelled with the company since it left Sydney and has been brought up with the theatre. Nigel has been present at almost every rehearsal since then. He sleeps very happily in a suitcase and his mother proudly said yesterday that he was likely to be carried on to the stage before long. Members of the cast have varied interests. There are two members of the M.CC.. but another says the only sporting club he belongs to is a billiards club in London. Still another spends most of his time reading and keeping in touch with modern and political and literary trends. One member of the cast when asked what he did in his spare time said he had no spare time. He had been invited to meet so many persons and to so many parties in New Zealand that he had to refuse many invitations. Most of his time, however, is spent at rehearsals.