Scheme groups Court plays

Press, 16 January 1979, Page 14

Scheme groups Court plays

From the end of January when the new Court Theatre season opens. Christchurch’s community professional theatre company will be using a scheme known in theatrical and operatic circles as the stagione system. The word stagione (pronounced stag-ee-own-ay is the Italian word for season, but in the theatre it has the specialised meaning of a repertoire of plays or operas which have a theme, author, cast or some other element in common and which are performed in rotation or sequence for administrative convenience or to make some artistic point through juxtaposition. For example, the first five plays of 1979 at the Court Theatre, although as various as they could possibly be, ranging from broad farce to tense drama, are linked in that they all deal in some way with the problems of marriage.

This has been named “The Wedlock Season’’ and it comprises “Middle Age Spread,” by Roger Hall, the author of "Glide Time,” a brilliant New Zealand comedy. “Ashes,” by David Rudkin, an outspoken and funny contemporary drama: Wycherley’s “The Country Wife,” the naughtiest of all Restoration comedies; “The Dance of Death,” by Strindberg, one of the greatest matrimonial duels in all dramatic literature; and a revival of Joseph Musaphia’s hilarious “Mothers and Fathers” which proved so popular two years ago that not

everyone who wanted to see it was able to.

The advantages of the stagione system to public and performers alike are obvious. The public knows what is going to happen and it is hoped that the sense of anticipation will be enhanced.

The performer feels a sense of direction and purpose and so is freed from the feeling of trotting out one play after another for no particular reason It also makes it possible for the theatre to plan ahead in fielding the best acting talent available, and in laying out money on productions — so important when costs of presentation are rising so sharply.

It also provides a basis for a dialogue between the public and the theatre. During the "Wedlock Season” there will be a series of public forums for the exchange of ideas. The theatre will provide information about the plays and members of the audience will be given an opportunity to say what they think. For example, it is proposed to have an open debate on obscenity and the theatre — a subject that exercises many theatre-goers. After the “Wedlock Season” there will be a short festival of the plays of Samuel Beckett which will include “Waiting for Godot,” “End Game” and

"Happy Days,” thus forming the second stagione for 1979. A third stagione to bridge the winter months is already in the planning stages and the plays in that will be linked in yet another play.