Dealing with life in South Africa

Press, 10 July 1985, Page 18

Dealing with life in South Africa

Plays complementary

Judd Millner will have something of an advantage tonight when the Court Theatre’s production of “Tramway Road” opens. The play is set in South Africa, not far from Tramway Road. Judd Millner was born in South Africa and came to New Zealand with his family in 1977. He was 15 when the family emigrated and it is easy, he says to recall the domestic scenes of the country and the accent for his role as a young elocution student, Emil. The play’s setting in South Africa has made it easier for him to play the role, he believes, although he says, in most respects, it is just another role. The cast in the Court production have relied on the books and the knowledge of the Millner family to familiarise themselves with domestic South Africa. An argument in realistic Afrikaans was written by the young actor’s mother to be used as background in the play. Judd Millner first became interested in theatre in his native country as a child.

He pursued that interest when he came to New Zealand and first performed in a Canterbury Children’s Theatre production in 1979. He played a Indian in “Daniel Boone” and loved it. He continued playing roles in amateur theatre while studing for a science degree at the University of Canterbury. He also acted and directed for Riccarton Players. A decision to concentrate on theatre came after travelling to Australia and being fascinated by the exciting atmosphere in theatre there. “I decided to give theatre a go and concentrate solely on it.” He arrived at the Court Theatre in February after six months on a P.E.P. scheme with the Arts Employment Scheme. He believes the scheme taught him about discipline. Now a trainee director and actor at the Court, Judd Millner will be there on a V.O.T.P. scheme until March of next year. His next role after “Tramway Road” will be “directing something.”

“Tramway Road,” at the Court Two theatre, has been chosen to complement the Court One production of “Foreskin’s Lament.” Ronald Harwood’s play is set in South Africa. Greg McGee’s “Foreskin’s Lament” is about rugby. “Tramway Road” explores the relationship of an

expatriate Englishman living in South Africa with his student and his wife. “Foreskin’s Lament” takes a look at New Zealand’s national game of rugby through the eyes of a player, nick-named Foreskin. Nick Mcßryde, the promotions manager at the theatre, said the two plays

had been chosen for the winter season because of the All Blacks’ rugby tour to South Africa. “Both seemed to be topical in light of events,” he said. “Foreskin’s Lament” opened last evening and will run until August 3. “Tramway road” will run from this evening until July 27.

Bill le Marquand is enthusiastic about his role in Ronald Harwood’s “Tramway Road.” He plays an ex-patriat English elocution teacher named Arthur. Arthur trains a student to win a travel grant to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England. The story of the play, says the actor, is about this relationship. Its setting in South Africa provides the framework within which the incidents take place but the play is about relationships. “The play is about how people deal with life, how they change and react to their surroundings.” There is a great deal of pathos in the play, Bill le Marquand says. “It is very good entertainment, and Judie Douglass makes a wonderfully alcoholic wife.” The actor first come to the Court to play Kent in “King Lear.” He also had a role in “Mr Cinders,” which finished last Saturday. “Tramway Road” is his last show at the Court before returning to the Mercury Theatre in Auckland to play in “Footrot Flats.” Before coming to the Court he played Richard John Seddon in the television series “Hanlon.”