Encore for Chorus

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32998, 18 August 1972, Page 1

Encore for Chorus

Jonathan Elsom, the Christchurch-born actor who is back in the Dominion for the first time for eight years to play the part of Chorus in the presentation of “Henry V” in the Sir James Hay Theatre in the Town Hall had a problem on arrival at Christchurch airport early last night.

A considerable portion of his luggage has been mislaid. “I last saw it in Singapore and by now it could very well be in Melbourne,” he said.

Fortunately his script for the part was with him but clothes, photographs, and material for a lunch-hour one-man performance he has planned in the city are in the missing case.

He said it was wonderful to be back in Christchurch

again. It was a special occasion for him to come back to play a role in “Henry V.” He has appeared in this Shakesperean play on two occasions before but each time as the Dauphin.

“I have heard such a lot about the new Town Hall from newspaper cuttings sent out by my parents,” he said.

Mr Elsom said that this was also the opportunity to work again with the person he regards as his guardianmentor —Dame Ngaio Marsh —who is directing the play. He said he had always seen Dame Ngaio when she visited London. Mr Elsom will be in New Zealand for eight weeks, after which he will return to London where there is a strong possibility of a good part in a new television drama. Mr Elsom is familiar with the medium, having appeared in leading roles in a number of productions since 1964,

—including “The Avengers,” “The Saint,” “The Troubleshooters,” “Z Cars,” “The White Rabbit,” ’Twelfth Night” and a number of others.

Although he admits that he likes television he said that, like all actors, he prefered a live audience. He said that at a time when more than 90 per cent of the members of Equity were out of work he had been lucky to have been very busy, especially in the last year. He added that it did not pay to stay away from London for very long. “The last time I was here —in 1964, for the Pan Pacific Arts Festival—l was out of work for 10 long weeks after I got back.” When not actively engaged on his primary occupation Mr Elsom can always fall back on painting and sculpting, particularly the latter.! He has exhibited portrait busts of other actors in major!

I London art shows and already has a list of actors wanting their portraits done.