Theatre Australia Historical & Cultural Collections
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University of Wollongong Research Online Theatre Australia Historical & Cultural Collections 4-1978 Theatre Australia: Australia's magazine of the performing arts 2(9) April 1978 Robert Page Editor Lucy Wagner Editor Bruce Kappett Associate Editor Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/theatreaustralia Recommended Citation Page, Robert; Wagner, Lucy; and Kappett, Bruce, (1978), Theatre Australia: Australia's magazine of the performing arts 2(9) April 1978, Theatre Publications Ltd., New Lambton Heights, 54p. https://ro.uow.edu.au/theatreaustralia/17 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] Theatre Australia: Australia's magazine of the performing arts 2(9) April 1978 Description Contents: Departments 2 Comment 5 Quotes and Queries 7 Whispers, Rumours and Facts 49 I.T.I. Roundup 50 Guide: Theatre, Opera Dance Features 8 Old Tote Crisis — Douglas Flintoff examines the situation behind the Totes losses. 10 Illusion Comique — Rex Cramphorn in interview with Roger Pulvers. 10 National Theatre Award Nominations 12 Theatre Training — Richard Mills and Bea Star give contrary views of N.I.D.A. Spotlight 3 Spotlight on Stephen Barry, Robert A lexander and Robert Van Macklenburg 48 ‘Where are the writers?” Desmond O’Grady in Rome Playscript 28 A Happy and Holy Occasion John O’Donoghue Act II Opera 41 David Gyger’s Survey: Australian Opera Summer Season Ballet 39 Australian Ballet: Swan Lake William Shoubridge W.A. Theatre Reviews 17 WA The Norman Conquests Othello & The Rape of Lucretia The Wakefield Mystery Days 19 VIC. Rock 'ola Melbourne Survey Dusa, Fish, Stas & Vi ‘Breaker’ Morant 22 QLD. Flight Path Small Change 23 S.A. Adelaide Survey Oedipus 25 N.S.W. Marxisms, Stubble, Everyman Edith Piaf Ned Kelly Sydney Survey Film 43 Elizabeth Riddell/Terry Owen Records 45 Roger Coveil 46 John McCallum Publisher Theatre Publications Ltd., New Lambton Heights, 54p This serial is available at Research Online: https://ro.uow.edu.au/theatreaustralia/17 ralia’s magazine ofthe performing arts April 1978 $1.50 lliealre Australia Interview: Rex Cramphorn Comprehensive Review Section Old Tote crisis including film, ballet, Merry Widow opera, etc. National Swan Lake G uide PARACHUTE PRODUCTIONS in association with the AUSTRALIAN ELIZABETHAN THEATRETRUST presents THE MELBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION OF »USA, FISH, STAS AND VI by PAM GEMS Starring Nancye Hayes, Carol Burns, Pat Bishop and Vivienne Garrett Perth Playhouse March 30th - April 22nd Adelaide Union Theatre April 26th - May 20th *The Sydney Theatre Royal May 30th - June 25th *By arrangement with the MLC Theatre Trust Departments 2 Comment T h eatre 5 Quotes and Queries A u stralia 7 Whispers, Rumours and Facts 49 I.T.I. Roundup 50 Guide: Theatre, Opera Dance Features 8 Old Tote Crisis — Douglas Flintoff examines the situation April 1978 behind the Totes losses. Volume 2 No.9 10 Illusion Comique — Rex Cramphorn in interview with Roger Pulvers. 10 National Theatre Award Nominations 12 Theatre Training — Richard Mills and Bea Star give contrary views of N.I.D.A. Spotlight 3 Spotlight on Stephen Barry, Robert A lexander and Robert Van Macklenburg International 48 ‘Where are the writers?” Desmond O’Grady in Rome Playscript 28 A Happy and Holy Occasion Act II John O’Donoghue Opera 41 David Gyger’s Survey: Australian Opera Summer Season Ballet 39 Australian Ballet: Swan Lake William Shoubridge Theatre Reviews 17 W.A. The Norman Conquests Othello & The Rape o f Lucretia The Wakefield Mystery Days 19 VIC. Rock 'ola Melbourne Survey Dusa, Fish, Stas & Vi ‘Breaker’ Moran t 22 QLD. Flight Path Small Change 23 S.A. Adelaide Survey Oedipus 25 N.S.W. Marxisms, Stubble, Everyman Edith Piaf Ned Kelly Sydney Survey Film 43 Elizabeth Riddell/Terry Owen Records 45 Roger Coveil ra tio n a l Theatre Opera Dance Books 46 John McCallum G u id e p50 Theatre Australia E d ito r: Robert Page Executive Editor: Lucy Wagner The Award season is upon us again with the continuing presentation of new and especially Associate Editor: Bruce Knappett Art Director: David Hill National Critics’ Circle having just presented Australian plays, with its “consistently high their gongs for 1977 and the nominations for the standard of presentation”; Joan Whalley in National Theatre Awards to be presented at this Queensland for the immense work she has done year’s Playwrights’ Conference in Canberra, personally for the furtherance of drama in that appearing in this issue of Theatre Australia and state; and in Western Australia the award has Advisory Board: John Bell, Graeme Blundell, Ellen Brave, the current Equity Newsletter as well. gone to Helen Weller for her individual “effort Katharine Brisbane, Vivian Chalwyn, Gordon Awards are accepted in most areas of the and commitment" to keeping Artlook magazine Chater, John Clark. W.A. Enright. Lynda entertainment business, but in the theatre world afloat (we send personal congratulations, being Gray, Jack Hibberd, Ken Horler, Garrie Hutchinson. Robert Jordan, Philip Mason. mention of them tends to excite vigorous all too aware of the dedication that takes). In Stan Marks. Jake Newby. Phil Noyce, Raymond argument, perhaps largely because they are still New South Wales the award went to Liviu Omodei. Philip Parsons, Diana Sharp. Ken Southgate, Raymond Stanley. Elizabeth Sweeting, at a comparitively youthful stage by comparison Ciulei for his magnificent production of The John Timlin, Tony Trench. Guthrie Worby, with their film, TV and writer's counterparts. In Lower Depths, unquestionably the high point of Richard Wherrett ten years perhaps there will be no brouhaha the Tote’s '77 season. Pleasingly it isn't just an and people will wonder, if they still remember, award for an outsider, but one which “should be what all the fuss was about. seen as a tribute to a talented Australian cast Already the Critics’ Circle presentations have and to the ability of (those) actors to respond to been judged by Marietta as “a farce" (see John good direction.” In Tasmania Peter Wilson took Publisher: Theatre Publications West’s reply in Quotes and Queries) and in the award for his direction, with the Tasmanian M a n a g e r: Jaki Gothard Advertising: Jaki Gothard/Sue Manger Melbourne Ray Lawler has refused his award Puppet Theatre production of Momma's Little for The Doll trilogy. John Sumner is reported to Horror Show (see TA July 1977). have said that had the award that the MTC as a With the inauguration of the National whole received been a personal one for him he Professional Theatre Awards last year, the Correspondents: would have responded exactly as Mr Lawler did. argument of proliferation was raised, and in the N .S .W .: Editors (0491 67-4470 The whole matter seems to stem from a fairly press by Len Radic of The Age. This again V ic .: Raymond Stanley (031419-1204 Q ld .: Don Batchelor (07) 269-3018 bitter round of argument last year when the seems unfair when, as the rejoinder said “two W .A .: Joan Ambrose (09) 299-6639 critics responded unfavourably to the classic does not make a crowd”. There are many S .A .: Michael Morley (08) 275-2204 season at the Athenaeum for which these two differences between the two awards; one is from gentlemen shared the directorial responsibility. the critics who are finally giving single accolades The belief is that if an award is accepted when at the end of the year in several categories of the Theatre Australia gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of the Australia Council, the Literature Board of the the critics are positive, one is obliged to accept performing arts, the other is industry Australia Council, the New South Wales Cultural Grants Board, their remarks when they are negative. recognition in six categories from each state, in the Arts Grants Advisory Committee of South Australia, the theatre alone. One, then, is from without, the Queensland Cultural Activities Department, the Victorian There is not the time to open up the whole Ministry of the Arts and the Assistance of the University of critics vs professionals debate yet again, but the other from within; the one can go to any Newcastle. implication seems to be that the critic is merely achievement of excellence in Australia (hence the front line publicist for the theatre, and that the Ciulei award), the other can only go to earned the rebuff from Shaw that “a dramatic Australian residents. Comparisons are not Manuscripts: invidious, each are effective in their own way, Manuscripts and editorial correspondence should be forwarded critic is the servant of a high art, and not a mere to the editorial office, 80 Elizabeth Street, Mayfield, N.S.W. advertiser of entertainment", and it should be and if each stimulate the press to give more 2304. Telephone (049) 67 4470. recommended for the MTC’s attention that coverage to the performing arts and their artists, Whilst every care is taken of manuscripts and visual material supplied for this magazine, the publishers and their agents accept there is an article by the American critic Richard then both should be supported. no liability for loss or damage which may occur. Unsolicited Gilman on “The Necessity for Destructive Sadly this issue is the first after the departure manuscripts and visual material will not be returned unles of Playhouse Press from Theatre Australia, and accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope. Opinions Criticism" wherein he says “you do not expressed in signed articles are not necessarily those of the patronise or act generously towards an artistic the loss of the Melbourne team who did so much editors. accomplishment — you identify it”. The award to achieve such accolades as “the best theatre to Ray Lawler was a recognition, with no strings magazine in the world” from Ian Herbert, the attached, of one of the unquestionable peaks of editor of the international Who's Who of Subscriptions and Advertising: Australian drama; it seems to have been rejected Theatre published from London.