“Vital” Qualities For Success In Acting

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30632, 24 December 1964, Page 12

“Vital” Qualities For Success In Acting

There was no ready-made formula for young actors who wanted to make a name for themselves in the fiercelycompetitive world of English drama, said Mr Jonathan Elsom In an interview yesterday, but certain qualities, apart from a capacity for sheer hard work, were in his opinion vital—single mindedness, patience, and faith in oneself.

Mr Elsom left Christchurch five years ago to train at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art on an Arts Advisory Council bursary. He has returned for a three months’ holiday, during which he will play the principal role of Christ in the Pan-Pacific Arts Festival presentation of the York Cycle of Mystery Plays. Single-mindedness he described as “keeping your eyes on exactly where you want to go.” For young New Zealanders there should be no doubt about their initial destination —an accredited English drama school, for two or preferably three years of basic technical training. Why English, as opposed to, say, American? This was simply his conviction possibly it was the old question of heritage, making New Zealanders feel more at home there than in other overseas countries.

However, that “Kiwi” accent had to disappear, as it reduced greatly the number of parts offered, and did not bring out the full beauty of the language. At L.A.M.D.A. he was taught “standard British,” an unaccented speech on which accents and dialects could be superimposed. After drama school, the young actor trying to find his feet had to know what kind of acting he was best suited to. This meant a choice among theatre, films and television, and doing a bit of everything; and the young actor found it difficult to decide.

Huge fees compared with those to be earned in theatre made television and the cinema tempting. In television an actor’s appearance and personality largely determined the type of role he was offered, and possibly even more so in cinema. Most of Mr Elsom’s television parts have been strongly emotional and dramatic, whereas on the less intimate stage his real forte is comedy, and he loves farce.

Once training was over it was important, too, to be seen, especially by agents and casting directors. Mr Elsom’s agent first noticed him in an end-of-year production at the school itself. In the acting profession contacts were essential, and a good agent could provide these.

Most actors started in repertory, where, in contrast to television, versatility was demanded. “It is important to

keep working in your first year at least, rather than stay in London out of work,” he said. “Your field of contact is widened by repertory work and your range of parts increased. Finney, for example, put in his groundwork at Birmingham rep. and he’ll never look back.” “After one or two years, become selective,” he advised. In his case it was after two years that he decided to try staying in London, and he made a good television debut in a 8.8. C. suspense drama, ‘The White Hot Coal.” Although casting directors seemed to have noticed him, 10 weeks out of work followed; but he had managed to save enough to live on when acting in repertory—another point worth noting, for one could expect periods of unemployment, in “the most expensive city in the world.” At the Labour Exchange everyone from celebrities in Rolls-Royces to those who urgently needed it queued for relief. While out of work one had to keep artistically alive as well as physically, by taking parts even when little financial reward could be expected. There was always a far larger number of actors and actresses than roles for them, and a young actor had to wait patiently for his chance —and then grab it with both hands when it arrived. And faith in oneself? “You need guts to keep at it: you must be convinced that you can act, that you have something to give,” he said.

Car On Fire.—A short circuit caused a fire in a car owned by Mrs M. P. Whatman, of 8 Ngahere street, at 9.43 a.m. yesterday caused no damage. The car was outside 178 Riccarton road at the time, and Sockburn firemen answered the alarm call.