From Unknown And Box & Cox

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30862, 22 September 1965, Page 2

From Unknown And Box & Cox

(From the London Correspondent of “The Press.”)

“Compact,” a glossy 8.8. C. television serial about life in the office of a women’s magazine, has ended, and for the former Dunedin actress, Bridget Armstrong, who played a leading role in its for the last 10 months it means two things. Like her husband, Terence Bayler, a member of the cast of “Right Honourable Gentleman” which has had a long run at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s Haymarket, Bridget has graduated from the ranks of the “unknowns.” “Nobody knew me before ‘Compact’ and now everybody does,” she says. Bridget is not worried about the danger of typecasting after the mass-expo-sure of television —as long as she stays known. It means a brief respite from a kind of “Box and Cox” existence in which Terence had to do some shopping and look after the two

young children while Bridget worked by day, and Bridget held the fort while Terence worked on his West End play in the theatre alongside New Zealand House at night. The children are two-year-old Lucy and six-year-old Michael. During the school vacation I found for once all four of the Bayler family at home at one time during the day. Life is hectic for Bridget for she refuses to renounce a mother’s role and hire a British “nanny.” Because of this and Ter-

ence’s hours of work, Bridget prefers to do television acting, which she can fit in during the day, and then dash home to the family. She is unlikely at the moment to accept any stage theatre castings, but would be interested in more film work in the future.

After three weeks’ holiday, she starts rehearsals as a “flapper” in a 8.8. C. television musical called “Chicago in the Roaring Twenties.” “ ‘Compact’ was 10 months of the hardest work in my life, but it was most enjoyable. 1 am sure it will help me to get many other parts,” Bridget said. Another thing “Compact” did was help finance the purchase of a charming 1860 cottage in Wimbledon, which was once a village schoolhouse. The Baylers are just about to take over the property and are planning to turn the 35ft x 15ft former schoolroom into a lounge for entertaining.

Terence Bayler, who looks very fierce and very English at the moment because he is sporting a moustache required in his present stage role as an officer, recently recorded a part in a 8.8. C. “World Theatre” radio production of John Galsworthy’s "Loyalties,” which will be later broadcast in New Zealand.