University of Wollongong Research Online Theatre Australia Historical & Cultural Collections 11-1977 Theatre Australia: Australia's magazine of the performing arts 2(6) November 1977 Robert Page Editor Lucy Wagner Editor Bruce Knappett Associate Editor Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/theatreaustralia Recommended Citation Page, Robert; Wagner, Lucy; and Knappett, Bruce, (1977), Theatre Australia: Australia's magazine of the performing arts 2(6) November 1977, Theatre Publications Ltd., New Lambton Heights, 66p. https://ro.uow.edu.au/theatreaustralia/14 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(6) November 1977 Description Contents: Departments 2 Comments 4 Quotes and Queries 5 Letters 6 Whispers, Rumours and Facts 62 Guide, Theatre, Opera, Dance 3 Spotlight Peter Hemmings Features 7 Tracks and Ways - Robin Ramsay talks to Theatre Australia 16 The Edgleys: A Theatre Family Raymond Stanley 22 Sydney’s Theatre - the Theatre Royal Ross Thorne 14 The Role of the Critic - Frances Kelly and Robert Page Playscript 41 Jack by Jim O’Neill Studyguide 10 Louis Esson Jess Wilkins Regional Theatre 12 The Armidale Experience Ray Omodei and Diana Sharpe Opera 53 Sydney Comes Second best David Gyger 18 The Two Macbeths David Gyger Ballet 58 Two Conservative Managements William Shoubridge Theatre Reviews 25 Western Australia King Edward the Second Long Day’s Journey into Night Of Mice and Men 28 South Australia Annie Get Your Gun HMS Pinafore City Sugar 31 A.C.T. Miss Litchfield’s Riverina Follies 32 New South Wales Going Home Fanshen Side by Side by Sondheim Jack A way Match The Time is not yet Ripe 37 Victoria While the Billy Boils The Bastard from the Bush Pygmalion 39 Queensland The Brass Hat The Season at Sarsparilla Books 56 John McCallum Records 57 Roger Covell Film 60 Elizabeth Riddell Publisher Theatre Publications Ltd., New Lambton Heights, 66p This serial is available at Research Online: https://ro.uow.edu.au/theatreaustralia/14 v fl& u HHralia's magazine of the performing arts November1977$1.95 TheatreInterview: Robin Ramsay AustraliaNational Guide Jim McNeil’s Jack Comprehensive review section Two Macbeths including film, LouisEsson ballet, opera, &c. i % / r X Mrs Bosanquet meets the Bastard from the Bush South Australian Theatre Company Artistic Director: Colin George SEASON TWO 1977 General Manager: Wayne MaddernIdem Theatre-In-Education ANNIE GET YOUR GUN Director: Roger Chapman Irving Berlin musical C IT Y SUGAR Associates: by Stephen Poliakoff Ron Blair, Ruth Cracknell, Leslie Dayman, Ronald Falk, MACBETH Rodney Ford, Daphne Grey, Edwin Hodgeman, Brian James, by William Shakespeare Patricia Kennedy, Kevin Miles, Dennis Olsen, Kevin Palmer, A HAPPY AND HOLY OCCASION David Williamson. by John O’Donoghue ADVENTURE IN THE DEEP presented by the Magpie Theatre-In-Education Company 2 Theatre Depir,me"ts 4 Quo,"'I Queries AUSt^lla 5 Letters 6 Whispers, Rumours and Facts 62 Guide'. Theatre, Opera, Dance November 1977 3 Spotlight'. Peter Hemmings Volume 2, Number 6 „reatures , 7 Tracks and Ways - Robin Ramsay talks to Theatre Australia 16 The Edgleys: A Theatre Family Raymond Stanley 22 Sydney’s Theatre - the Theatre Royal Ross Thorne 14 The Role of the Critic - Frances Kelly and Robert Page Playscript 41 Jack by Jim O’Neill Studyguide 10 Louis Esson Jess Wilkins Regional Theatre 12 The Armidale Experience Ray Omodei and Diana Sharpe Opera 53 Sydney Comes Second best David Gyger 18 The Two Macbeths David Gyger Ballet 58 Two Conservative Managements William Shoubridge Theatre Reviews 25 Western Australia King Edward the Second Long Day’s Journey into Night Of Mice and Men 28 South Australia Annie Get Your Gun HMS Pinafore City Sugar 31 A.C.T. Miss Litchfield’s Riverina Follies 32 New South Wales Going Home Fanshen Side by Side by Sondheim Jack A way Match The Time is not yet Ripe 37 Victoria While the Billy Boils The Bastard from the Bush Pygmalion 39 Queensland The Brass Hat The Season at Sarsparilla Books 56 John McCallum rational Records 57 Roger Covell Theatre Opera Dance Film 60 Elizabeth Riddell G uide p 62 Theatre Australia Editor: Robert Page Executive Editor: Lucy Wagner Associate Editor: Bruce Knappett Assistant: Jayne Farrell Advisory Board: John Bell, Graeme Blundell, Ellen Braye, Katherine Brisbane, Vivian Chalwyn, Gordon Behind a jaded, crushed-velvet, burgundy publicity lady of the MTC, finds only Chater, John Clark,W.A. Enright, Lynda curtain, Gordon Chater sits with only a enough chairs to seat Robin Ramsay and Gray, Jack Hibberd, Ken Horler, Game short robe between him and the opening the Editors for an interview in the Hutchinson, Robert Jordan, Philip Mason, moments of Benjamin Franklin. Hundreds enormous, uncompleted warehouse the Stan Marks, Jake Newby, Phil Noyce, Ray­ mond Omodei, Philip Parsons, Diana Sharp, of telegrams looking like a bad wall­ company has taken over. Ramsay the ever Ken Southgate, Raymond Stanley, Elizabeth papering job speak litteringly of success gentlemanly young actor who has already Sweeting, John Timlin, Tony Trench, Guthrie while Gordon chainsmokes the pro­ tasted West End and Broadway success, Worby, Richard Wherrett gramme-advertised Dunhills and beams proffers his chair (as did the Editors theirs) his news of the London transfer through but to no avail. the fog of the dressing room. We chat, with the elaborate recording Publisher: John Curtain It has been known for some time that gadget and the tatty stacking-seats looking Art Director: Alex Stitt the play had been bought — and he, wholly incongruous in the great empty without a trace of pique, wished it well — expanse. but now he is to go too; a triumphal return Why, we ponder, thinking of a similar Correspondents: after thirty one years, during which time he building the Old Tote has in Alexandria, Sydney, Sue Manger (02) 456 2068 has “never thought of myself as anything do the state companies go in for these vast Melbourne, Raymond Stanley (03) 419 1204 but Australian”. untheatrical factories? Brisbane, Don Batchelor (07)269 3018 Other billowing names are still puffed Ramsay, as the article in this month’s Perth, Joan Ambrose (092) 94 6639 into the air on who’s to play the ageing issue relates, made it overseas on his own; Adelaide, Michael Morley (08) 275 2204 transvestite in New York — George C The Twenties began as a late show with Scott, Richard Burton, Orson Welles — neither subsidy nor big backing; and Theatre Australia gratefully acknowledges the but their smoky presence disperses quickly Benjamin Franklin at the Nimrod, which financial assistance of the Australia Council, the Literature Board of the Australia Council, and the air clears again. Clear enough to Mike Crosby of Equity has recently the New South Wales Cultural Grants Board, see Gordon Chater on Broadway? Hal described as only catering “for a minority the Arts Grants Advisory Committee of South Prince and Stephen Sondheim, no less, will interest”. True the last success to rival Australia, the Queensland Cultural Activities be shocked if he isn’t; Mrs Prince is quoted Benjamin Franklin in international Department, the Victorian Ministry of the Arts, as saying to Hal “this guy has got to do it acclaim, The Doll, began at what was to the University of New South Wales Drama in New York — he’s married to his become the largest state company — but Foundation and the Assistance of the Univer­ material”. that was a long time ago. sity of Newcastle. Gordon (self-effacing as always) Increasingly voracious needs for subsidy remarked that Steve J Spears was “putting by companies gobbling up as many of the Manuscripts: Manuscripts and editorial correspondence himself down by saying the play depended, venues in state capitals as they can seems should be forwarded to the editorial office, 7 a propos London and New York, on the to bear no relation to acclaim received. At President Place, New Lambton Heights, New shock of a ‘local’ appearing nude on the same time the commercial theatre is South Wales 2305, telephone (049) 52 5976. stage”; a bevy of awards for the play, and selling off its inner city theatres. Whilst every care is taken of manuscripts and visual material supplied for this magazine, the Chater, would suggest this is true. Stultification is arguably the only thing publishers and their agents accept no liability Shortly TA will be publishing the which bears true relation to company size. for loss or damage which may occur. Un­ personal reminiscences of the man on Still, the latest addition to the Tote’s solicited manuscripts and visual material will whose shoulders the incredible first year of “monopoly’Mike bids though the property not be returned unless accompanied by a Benjamin Franklin has rested — from the itself has not exactly teemed with popular stamped addressed envelope. Opinions express­ moment he first read the script, com­ patronage, has been given into the hands of ed in signed articles are not necessarily those of pulsively, straight through, to the news of two of the best young Australian directors the editors. the London engagement. around, in their different ways. Jim Subscriptions and advertising: Not far away Kenn Brodziak is Sharman and Rex Cramphorn. If anyone The subscription rate is $19.80 post free within ensconced in a much more opulent room, can inject vitality and set roaring what was Australia. Cheques should be made payable to where only a few objets, a record cover and coming to look increasingly white and Theatre Australia and posted to the publisher’s a decorated mirror interrupt the flush elephantine (the Seymour Centre), it is address.