Acting standards slipping?

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 19

Acting standards slipping?

The standard of supporting actors in England is slipping if the latest trip to England by the Court Theatre’s artistic director, Elric Hooper, is any guide. Mr Hooper said he noticed most the standard of the supporting casts during his six weeks overseas. “Young people are coming up now through television and that is not as demanding a medium. Even at the Royal Shakespeare and the National the supporting characters were not as good as they should have been.” The disappearance of many of England’s reper-

tory companies meant young actors were not getting the theatre experience they used to. The leading actors, however, were excellent, and the scenery spectacular. This past season had been a set designer’s dream, Mr Hooper said. Spectacular sets have been used for most shows. It is also, the season of musicals — “The biggest risk but the biggest payoff if it’s successful. “You can see Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Judy Garland reincarnated.” In New York also the musicals are having suc-

cessful seasons, the big four are “The Little Shop of Horrors” — now playing at the Court — “Big River,” “Cats” and “Cage Aux Folles.” Several of the plays Mr Hooper saw during his time in London, Paris, New York and San Francisco he would like to stage at the Court. One is a comedy with a French title, “Les Liasons Dangereuses,” that roughly translates as Dangerous Acquaintances. It is the story of two noblemen that set out to corrupt two young people. Two plays from the United States that Mr Hooper would: like to bring to Christchurch are

“Greater Tuna” and “As" Is.” The first is a two-actor play. The two play all the characters in a Southern town. “As Is” is about A.I.D.S. Mr Hooper would like to stage the play because it is educative about A.I.D.S. ; One play that will not be staged at the Court is Peter Brook’s “Mahabharatta,” a nine hour,, epic about a feud between two Indian families. The play is being performed to sell-out audiences in Paris. Mr Hooper, who saw only,, four hours of it, described it as "stunning and very, „ very moving.”