To Russia for warmth

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33435, 17 January 1974, Page 6

To Russia for warmth

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, January 16. It can get so cold 4m stage these days of energy crisis that Fiona Richmond, England’s “kiss-and-tell” reporter, is taking a leave of absence from her job as a West End stage actress to cover a story in Russia.

“At least they’ll have central heating there,” said the blonde actress who turned in her tape recorder and typewriter a year 0r,.50 ago to accept a role in a longrunning play, “Pyjama Tops.” “As it is, I wear so little in some scenes, I’m supposed to keep moving discreetly behind the furniture and other props, but they’ve had to reduce the backstage temperature, and it often is so chilly I come right up and hog the warm footlights,” she said. Miss Richmond, who is 26, is used to revealing all — as an investigative reporter and as an actress. She became known through her column for Raymond Publications in which she had an assignment to meet a man every month, and write a detailed report about their relationship. Miss Richmond said her assignment in Russia was a secret at the moment, but she said she feels her readers deserve a report on what interests the East European male, beside Marx and Lenin.

At least Miss Richmond’s stage appearances have been in a modem theatre. Only a few minutes walk away dozens of strip-tease dancers

in the Soho are taking- cold medicines before going on stage in the converted stores and cellars that hold many nude shows.

“Only cultural establishments are allowed to have heat all week,” said one stripper who claimed she had influenza. She added defensively: “We’re just as cultural as the Royal Shakespeare Company. Our audiences are practically all students of anatomy.”