TRAINING FOR THE STAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19568, 15 August 1933, Page 3

TRAINING FOR THE STAGE

ADDRESS BY MISS ELIZABETH BLAKE. GROWTH OF COMMUNITY DRAMA. The Timaru Rotary Club at yesterday’s weekly luncheon was addressed by Miss Elizabeth Blake, representative of the British Drama League in New Zealand, and judge of the South Canterbury Drama League competitions, who gave her hearers many interesting sidelights on "The Training of the Professional Actor.” Several representatives of the Drama League were ina large gathering. In welcoming the speaker, Rdlarian Dr W. H. Unwin (president of the South Canterbury Drama League), who was chairman for the day, said that no greater compliment could be paid to a speaker than that paid to Miss Blake on Thursday, when at 11.15 p.m., all the large attendance at the Drama League’s competitions remained to hear what the judge had to say about the plays. It made one think that people who patronised the competition did not go to see the plays but to hear the remarks of the judge. Value of Drama School. Miss Blake spoke of her own training in England, and said that some thought that a stage career depended on good looks, and good luck. This was not so, however, as success could be attained only by hard work and brains. To-day actors and actresses were obliged to spend tw'o years in a drama school learning how to breathe, speak, whisper and talk out of doors. The exercises, although they appeared ridiculous, were essential. It was necessary to have correct control of the diaphragm and to master diction, and in the latter respect the French were very much ahead of us. Referring to the school in which she had been trained, Miss Blake said thut successful graduates had included Dame Sybil Thorndike, Lewis Casson, Owen Nares and Edith Evans. The students were taught to be clear in their diction without being affected or pedantic, and how to move and stand still, a favourite test being the Lady Macbeth sleep-walking scene, in whicn a player had to walk blindfolded. In rehearsals students were never given the parts they knew would suit them, and when they had any part played well they knew that never again in the school would they secure that part. Character training received special attention, and no matter how well one worked, it was nothing to be called “a blithering idiot.” One could never really be prepared for a (rehearsal as it was very often the case mat the part one had been preparing »uld not be called ior, but a scene w*:h the student had thought was wanted the following week would be demanded. Spread of Community Drama. Miss Blake said that there was an extraordinary spread of community drama at present in England, and it was this that was keeping the professional theatre alive. The repertory and drama theatres acted as a clearing house, professional theatres being fed by amateur audiences. She hoped that it would be possible in New Zealand to secure closer co-operation between the amateur and professional theatres, as it was through that cooperation only that drama, which was a vital part of a nation’s recreation, could be kept alive. Drama promoted international understanding, and it was hoped that it would progress to an international extent. The majesty of the English language and the beauty of English literature, helped to bring the ties of the Empire together. Trade agreements might be good, but it was through the hearts of the people—and drama allowed for such expression—and the real love of one nation for another, that held the Empire together. “Rotarians put service before self, and we are trying to do the same to the community, the country and the Empire as a whole,” said Miss Blake. In moving a vote of thanks to the speaker, Rotarian W. Thomas referred to the excellent work being accomplished by the South Canterbury Drama League under the leadership of Dr Unwin. The League’s aim was to endeavour as much as possible to promote individual effort, and not so much to bring out two or three experts who might make names for themselves on the stage. There was a chance of Miss Blake and the Drama League conducting a summer school at the Boys’ High School during the holidays, and it was hoped that many Rotarians would join. If they did there was every chance next year of having a dramatic group in the Rotary movement.

The motion was carried by acclamation.