University of Wollongong Research Online Theatre Australia 6-1980 Theatre Australia: Australia's magazine of the Performing Arts 4(11) June 1980 Robert Page Editor Lucy Wagner Editor Follow this and additional works at: http://ro.uow.edu.au/theatreaustralia Recommended Citation Page, Robert and Wagner, Lucy, (1980), Theatre Australia: Australia's magazine of the Performing Arts 4(11) June 1980, Theatre Publications Ltd., New Lambton Heights, 50p. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theatreaustralia/43 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 4(11) June 1980 Publisher Theatre Publications Ltd., New Lambton Heights, 50p This serial is available at Research Online: http://ro.uow.edu.au/theatreaustralia/43 Australia’s magazine of the performing arts. June 1980 $1.95* Theatre Australia Circuz Oz Colin George Departs His Majesty’s Perth Open Tasmanian Puppets Closed 1 1 1 8 1 1 : m m m S S m p ^ Pw&jfe ’S r °PERa NEIL MOORE^ Theatre Australia JUNE 1980, VOLUME 4, NO. 11. DEPARTMENTS 3/COMMENT 4/INFO 9/WHISPERS, RUMOURS AND F ACTS /Norman Kessell 45/GUIDE (THEATRE, DANCE, OPERA, CONCERTS) SPOTLIGHT 10/CIRCUS OZ/Lucy Wagner 12/COLIN GEORGE DEPARTS/J?o/i Blair 13/TASMANIAN PUPPET THEATRE/Cathryn Robinson FEATURES 14/SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY/.//// 16/HIS MAJESTY’S PERTH INTERNATIONAL 18/UK: IN FAVOUR OF THE OLD SCHOOL//rvi/i£ Wardle 19/USA: LATE OF TENNESSEE/ATar/Leve« 20/ITI FUTURE EVENTS DANCE 21/BERLIN BALLET, PRAGUE BALLET, RAYMONDA/^iV/wm Shoubridge FILM 25/BREAKER MOR ANT/Elizabeth Riddell OPERA 26/THREEPENNY OPERA AND DON GIOVANNI/DaW*/ Gyger REVIEWS 29/ACT/STRAWBERRY FIELDS, OUT AT SEA /Kyle Wilson 30/NSW/CLOUDS/Robert Page NO NAMES... NO PACKDRILL/Lhcf Wagner ABSENT FRIENDS, MEASURE FOR MEASURE/fla/vy O'Connor HAPPY FAMILY /Michele Field 34/QLD/VANITIES, ANGEL CITY/ Veronica Kelly PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD, IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST/Jeremy Ridgman 36/SA/THE ONE DAY OF THE YEAR, BODIES /Michael M or ley 38/VIC/COMEDIANS/Swza/me Spunner BANANA BENDER, MANSON/Catherine Peake 41/WA/THE TAMING OF THE SHREW/Co//m O'Brien 42/TAS/GLASS MENAGERIE, MINSTREL SHOW /Bruce Cornelius BOOKS 44/CANADA: EXPRESSION OF A COUNTRY/John McCollum THEATRE AUSTRALIA JUNE 1980 I Three companions to the British Theatre: EDWARD BOND, A COMPANION TO THE PLAYS Malcolm Hay and Philip Roberts_____________ $ 7.00 BERTOLT BRECHT IN BRITAIN Introduced by John Willett___________________J&SDO" $ 4.25 PINTER: A BIBLIOGRAPHY Rudiger Imhof $ 3.50 Sale prices include postage to all States The following reading sets (number of characters plus two) are on offer at cost during June only. Further copies may be purchased at unit cost. MAKASSAR REEF Buzo 10 @ $1.50 $15.00 THE CHAPEL PERILOUS Hewett $ 3^ (r 15 @ $1.00 $15.00 A HARD GOD Kenna $ 9 @ $1.50 $13.50 THE DOLL TRILOGY Lawler _$T3^5O' 9 @ $5.00 $45.00 THE CHOCOLATE FROG, THE OLD FAMILIAR JUICE McNeil 53^5" 5 @ $1.60 $ 8.00 THE CAKE MAN Merritt 10 @ $1.50 $15.00 INNER VOICES Nowra 16 @ $1.50 $24.00 BEDFELLOWS Oakley 5 @ $1.50 $ 7.00 FOR VALOUR Throssell 18 @ $1.50 $27.00 Send orders with remittance before June 30 to: Currency Press Pty. Ltd. 87 Jersey Road, Woollahra, NSW 2025 Hieaf re Australia Editor: Robert Page Executive Editor: Lucy Wagner COMMENT Publishing Consultant: Philip Mason Art Director: Jack Jagtenberg FROM THEATRE TO FILM currently in hand. Subscriptions Manager: Anne Campbell Seven of our top theatre directors, Such an ambitious venture has not been ADVISORY BOARD: Richard Wherrett, Rex Cramphorn, without its problems. Rumblings from John Bell. Graeme Blundell. Brett Casben. George Whaley, Kerry Dwyer, Malcolm those already established in the industry Katharine Brisbane, Vivian Chalwyn, Michael Robertson, Mick Rodger and Aarne were suggesting that the whole exercise Crosby. W A Enright. Jack Hibberd, Ken Neeme, are facing their first real test in was a waste of money. Or that if these Horler. Carrie Hutchinson. Jake Newby. Phil film. theatre directors really wanted to try their Noyce. Raymond Omodei. Philip Parsons, Now the shorts that have been a hand they should have been put through Diana Sharpe. Ken Southgate. Raymond culmination of a crash course at the Film the full three year course at the School; Stanley. Elizabeth Sweeting. Marlis Thiersch, impossible for people with such heavy John Timlin. Tony Trench. Guthrie Worby. and Television School are at preview stage. Richard Wherrett. From the start of this baptism by fire it was commitments to the stage. envisaged, with investment from the Commercial release itself throws up ADVERTISING: Australian Film Commission and Greater such problems as extra money for the well Sole Advertising Representatives Union, that at least some of them should known actors involved — Kate The Globe-Bridge Company go on commercial release. Fitzpatrick, Tony Llewellyn-Jones, Anna I la Euroka Street Waverton NSW 2060 Telephone: (02) 92 1249 Despite the nervousness of having their Volska, John Clayton to name but a few — first efforts immortalised on celluloid, the who worked for minimal AFTVS STATE REPRESENTATIVES: directors have found the experience, in educational rates. ACT: Kyle Wilson (062) 49 511 I Mick Rodger’s word, "marvellous''. Julia Despite criticisms and problems, the N.S.W.: Editors (049) 67 44/0 Overton of AFTVS somehow managed the idea, initiated by Gil Brealey, recently Vic.: Suzanne Spunner (03) 387 2651 nightmare logistics of finding free time in appointed head of the Tasmanian Film Qld.: Don Batchelor (07) 269 3018 Commission, has paid off. Many of the W.A.: Joan Ambrose (09) 299 6639 seven very heavy schedules and the films S.A.: Sue Vile (08) 269 2038 themselves were overseen by Tony directors, their appetites whetted, want to Buckley, one of the best producers in the continue, though are humble enough not Theatre Australia gratefully acknowledges the country. to see one short as indicating fully fledged financial assistance of the Theatre Board of the At the time of writing only four films status as film makers. Mick Rodger, for Australia Council, the Literature Board of the were available for preview, but already instance, has secured script development Australia Council, the New South Wales Cultural Grants Advisory Council, the Arts John Reid, the General Manager of GUO money from the ADC and is looking to return for the backing to direct the film Grants Adv isory Committee of South Austrlia. Film Distributors, is "very thrilled". He the Queensland Cultural Activities Department, and I both agree that in terms of polish, himself. the Victorian Ministry of the Arts, the Western interest and performances, Richard His suggestion, thinking of people like Australian Arts Council and the assistance of Wherrett’s film The Girl Who Mel Simone Jim Sharman alone in this country, and the University of Newcastle. de Beauvoir in Paris, based on a short story Peter Brook and Lyndsay Anderson in MANUSCRIPTS: by Frank Moorhouse, is of the four the Europe, is that the exchange should Manuscripts and editorial correspondence most outstanding so far. A daunting title continue. Now, he says, the AFTVS (or should be forwarded to the editorial office. 80 belies a wry and urbane study of what perhaps NIDA) should find the money for Elizabeth Street. Mayfield. NSW' 2304. might loosely be described as the war of the film directors to try their hand in theatre. A Telephone (049) 67 4470 late night conversation with Fred Schepisi Whilst every care is taken of manuscripts and sexes. visual material supplied for this magazine, the In that film, and George Whaley’s revealed that he felt as inadequate and publishers and their agents accept no liability for moving and perceptive view of a migrant daunted by stage work as Mick Rodger by loss of damage which may occur. Unsolicited adolescent, Dancing, the hoped for film. manuscripts and visual material will not be strength that theatre people would bring to Perhaps this is the beginning of a whole returned unless accompanied by a stamped film making, evoking fuller performances, new cross-fertilisation of film and theatre, addressed envelope. Opinions expressed in has obviously paid off. with directors moving between the two signed articles are not necessarily those of the Kerry Dwyer has skillfully managed to with the same ease that actors have from editors. bring an air of Melbourne’s zanily rough the very beginning. SUBSCRIPTIONS: The subscription rate is $21.00 post free within theatre to the screen, in her surrealist film Australia. Cheques should be made payable to The Wedding. Rex Cramphorn once again Theatre Australia and posted to Theatre worked with writer Louis Nowra on the Publications Ltd. 80 Elizabeth Street, Mayfield. supernatural tale By Night. NSW 2304. With an Alex Buzo scripted film by For institutional and overseas subscription rates Aarne Neeme, an Alan Hopgood comedy see page 61. by Malcolm Robertson and Mick Theatre Australia is published by Theatre Publications Rodger’s Buckley's Chance, a historical ltd., 80 Elizabeth Street, Mayfield, NSW 2304. drama which he has uniquely written and Telephone (049) 67 4470. Distributed by subscription and through theatre foy ers etc. by Theatre Publications directed himself, yet to come, an obvious l td., and to newsagents throughout Australia by range and diversity of product has resulted Allan Rodney-Wright. from the experiment. Theatre Australia is produced by Soundtracts Though it is still early days John Reid is Publishing Pty. Ltd. (Telephone(02) 31 8006)on behalf of Theatre Publications Ltd. Typesetting by Get Set predicting that commercial release will go Typesetting Pty.