STAGE SHOW SUPERVISOR

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31780, 10 September 1968, Page 2

STAGE SHOW SUPERVISOR

She may be a petite woman, but Miss Elizabeth Caldwell was firmly in command of her crew of burly stage hands yesterday setting the stage for the opening night of “Wait a Minim” at the Theatre Royal. Dwarfed by the tons of metal which make up the revue’s set, she was keeping an expert eye on the electricians and carpenters when "The Press" reporter arrived for an interview yesterday. Asked whether she was a tough boss. Miss Caidwell thought for a minute, then said: “No, but I’ve been known to raise my voice.” Production supervising requires “diplomacy, technical know-how, directing and organising ability, and inborn timing,” but the American expert describes her job simply as “housekeeping.” LEARNED ON JOB She has been with “Wait a Minim” for a year, touring in the United States before coming to New Zealand. Most of her knowledge has been acquired on the job since she began stage managing in the late 19405. She has a master of arts degree from Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Her experience includes a two years course at the Neighbourhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York and supervising a variety of touring companies from “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” to "Half a Sixpence.” Still something of an “intruder in a man’s world,” Miss Caldwell says an increasing number of women are venturing into the field. Once the crews come to respect her and realise she knows what she is doing, doubts evaporate amidst the banging of hammers, shouts of "Elizabeth,” and decisions about where to put the dressing rooms. New Zealand has jwsed no unsurmountable problems though it is doubtful that the brisk, efficient and seemingly unflappable Miss Caldwell would admit to such a thing “The crew members here were surprised to find themselves left on their own so

much. I think this is because they are used to having an Australian technician come over with shows and tell them what to do,” said Miss Caldwell, who respects the ability of her crew members. When the show's run concludes in Christchurch it will move to Melbourne and there Miss Caldwell will hand over to her successor. A new musical, “Canter bury Tales,” which opened in London, awaits her supervision in America towards the end of this year and, meanwhile, she hones to spend some time in England. The photograph shows Miss Caldwell watching one of the electricians of the stage crew at work in the Theatre Royal.