Plays cause problems

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33061, 31 October 1972, Page 10

Plays cause problems

Difficulties in making contact with the busy Hayes Gordon in Australia are causing problems for the Christchurch Festival Committee.

Mr Gordon, who is best known in New Zealand for his leading role in the touring production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” has. been engaged by the committee as producer of the official festival play, “The Royal Hunt of ithe Sun,” a massive production with a huge cast. Mr Gordon came to New Zealand for auditions earlier this month, and interviewed actors in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland with Mr Alex Henderson, a member of the committee. At the end of his visit Mr Gordon submitted a list of actors to the committee, and the committee at its next meeting amended the list in terms of what was economically feasible.

Mr Henderson said the committee was working on a limited budget, and compromises had to be made. The amended cast list had been posted to Mr Gordon, but a decision was becoming urgent, because the casting of other plays to be performed during the festival was affected, and also because some actors might have to accept roles in other productions if there was much more delay. Mr Henderson lodged a call to Australia yesterday, with a message for Mr Gordon to call him back- to settle the list. Meantime, no information is being issued by the committee about the choice of a cast, but it is likely that several professional actors will be included.

Already the sheer size of “The Royal Hunt of the Sun” has had an impact on Christ-

church drama societies, and two groups say they have been asked to withdraw their plays from the festival.

■ As a result of a meeting lof representatives of the 'drama societies and the committee recently, at which the problems of filling large casts (and especially casts with a large proportion of male actors) were discussed, the Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society may delay its production of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale’’ until some time after the festival, and the University Drama Society has substituted a smaller play for its original choice, Brecht s “Galileo Galilei.”

The Repertory Society’s productions committee is meeting this week to decide what it will do about the festival.

Don McAra, who was to have _ produced “Galileo Galilei,” has been asked—and has agreed—to produce “Billy Liar” instead. This comedy, which has a small cast, is set in an English provincial city and is about a Walter Mitty-type character. It was made into a successful film some years ago.

The Court Theatre will have a play on during the festival, probably directed by a guest producer, but has not yet announced the title; and the Riccarton Players will have a small-scale production in the Nelson Street Hall.

One other big play—the Elmwood Players’ production of David Storey’s “The Changing Room” — will go ahead as scheduled. Planning for this was apparently too far advanced to be halted.