Adventurous play choice encouraged

Press, 29 June 1985, Page 8

Adventurous play choice encouraged

Carol Bellini-Sharp believes that she has contributed something to New Zealand theatre in her six months here as a Fulbright scholar by bringing in contemporary American playscripts. Much exciting theatre was being written in the United States, she said. Sam Shepard, whose two one-act plays she will direct for the Free Theatre next week, is one such playwright. “His work is simply amazing,” Dr Bellini-Sharp said. When she arrived in New Zealand in February she brought with her several American playscripts. These have been used in her teaching and have been available to theatre groups. She believes New Zealanders should be more adventurous in choosing plays. Dr Bellini-Sharp teaches drama at a New York State college in Clinton and directs productions. Her own training was through the usual American college and university theatre programmes and she has a doctorate in drama and theatre. Her Fulbright scholarship has seen her teaching in Dunedin, at the Otago University theatre course, and at the New Zealand School of Drama in Wellington, as well as at the University of Canterbury. At Canterbury she has taught and directed a production of “Fefu and Her Friends,” a female play with an all-woman cast. Feminist writing is one area of strength she has noted in New Zealand theatre, although she believes that more experimental theatre could be staged. “New Zealand theatre is in the British tradition and most of the works staged are conventional theatre. They are creditably done but I think a little more adventure could be used in choosing plays. Even ‘True West,’ the Sam Shepard play the Court Theatre did recently was his most conventional play. It is the most often performed of his plays in the States also.” Dr Bellini-Sharp said she was not interested in playwrighting herself, or in acting. “I love the great writers

and the magic’ they make with words. Bearing that in mind, I know I couldn’t settle for less than that so I

don’t write. I don’t act now although I have. Directing is what I do.” When she leaves New Zealand at the beginning of August, she will return to teaching at Hamilton College. She will also continue to direct productions oiitside the college. Christchurch has " impressed her with its two or three regular theatres. American cities of a comparable size do not always have even one theatre, she said. “There is a strong tradition of theatre here in New Zealand,” she said. The Shepard double bill, which features a cast. of staff and students from the university, will play in the Drama Studio at the Christchurch Teachers’ College from July 9 to 13.