Fine Repertory Theatre Presentation

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31226, 25 November 1966, Page 14

Fine Repertory Theatre Presentation

“The Caucasian Chalk Circle,” by Betold Brecht, is rough-and-tumble, epic theatre.

Presented by the Canterbury Repertory Theatre training course in the Repertory Theatre last evening, it had its low moments, but there was more than recompense in the warmth, the laughter, and the tears of the high moments.

Running through the production like a strong, warm, thread is the story of Grusha, Simon, and Michael. Grusha, played by Helen Burns, is portrayed as a sturdy little peasant who is intelligent, feminine, tough, touchingly pathetic, firey and quietly joyful. This was a memorable performance which drew genuine tears from one member of the audience at least. Helen Bums has a vibrant, warm voice, and, singing or speaking, her performance was compelling and beautifully controlled. Bryan Aitken as Simon shared some delicately touching moments with her. Surrounding this core are the other characters, played in the Brechtian style of alienation. When this was achieved it was most effective and helped to accentuate the humanity of Grusha and Simon. Some effective masks assisted in achieving this removal of the characters from reality, but unfortunately too many of the players were without them and the “play acting” effect was not always sustained.

Don Farr’s Azdak was a sly, brilliantly logical, quickwitted clown. He was the thread on which the beads of the last two acts were strung. This was a commendable performance.

The high moments of this three-hour show are too numerous to name, but one must be mentioned. Judie Douglas’s and Pam Ferris’s amusing cleverly constructed wedding song is worth going along to hear on its own, as is all the music, which is beautiful to listen to and extremely relevant to the plav at all times.

i The set is most effective and provides a clever background for the brightly col-

oured costumes. The general effect is of a bawdy, colourful, mediaeval painting. One of the obvious advantages of a training course is the ensemble feeling which can be achieved and which was displayed at times last night—most particularly in the story-telling and singing. This is real theatre, which everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime. The production, by John Kim and Don Farr, will run until tomorrow. J.M.F.