“SENSING” AN AUDIENCE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1452, 21 February 1918, Page 33

“SENSING” AN AUDIENCE.

MISS MARIE TEMPEST’S ART. Personality counts every tima. Nowhere so forcibly as on the stage. It is a wonderful gift to be able to “get” your audience and grip them straight off. And if there is one woman that has that gift in full measure and flowing over it is Miss Marie Tempest, the eminent English comedy actress, who is holding sway at present in the hearts of Auckland playgoers by her live characterisations. Miss Tempest enthused to a “Review” representative over New Zealand, and New Zealand audiences — Auckland not being the least among them. “I heard that audiences were not. at all demonstrative,” she said, “but I have found quite the contrary. Take Auckland, for instance, and the welcome they gave me on Saturday night. No coldness about that. No quiet acceptance. They were delightfully enthusiastic. And so quick, so keen to grasp every point! They reminded me of an audience at Home. It was a pleasure to play to them. Then, Dunedin. I was told with emphasis that it was the ‘grave of the actor!’ Why, I found one of the most wonderful audiences there, and the theatre packed every night. So there’s a turning of the tables! I hadn’t the slightest intention of coming out to Australasia, but a member of the J. C. Williamson firm negotiated with me, and I’m very glad I came now. And if ever I thought of settling anywhere away from England it would be in New Zealand. ’lt has so many English touches about it, and the people are so sympathetic. ’ Miss Tempest has had a tremendously busy time since she arrived in Australia last March, rehearsing her company, and with Mr. Graham Browne putting on new plays. “I

haven’t been out of the theatre once since then, with the exception of a fortnight’s holiday! Work! I’ve never worked so hard in my life! Frequent changes of programme mean constant rehearsal. It is so different in London, where the plays have such long runs. There rehearsals are luxuries, not habits! ’ “It is a great profession —acting—” continued one of its most brilliant exponents. “One in which you get your reward on the spot. You don't have to wait for it. There is no posthumous glory attached to it. You arrive, or you don’t. I sense an audience straight away. In a minute I feel something go out between them and me. Purely instinct, intuition, what you will. One suits one’s acting to the audience. I always know in less than five minutes how’ far I’ve got them. If I don’t get them by one method. I try another. But eventually I get ’em!” Yes, Miss Marie Tempest, you certainly do!