Large Cast For “Romeo And Juliet”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29514, 16 May 1961, Page 13

Large Cast For “Romeo And Juliet”

Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet,” produced by Richard Campion—who is also the New Zealand Theatre Company's chairman—and designed by Raymond Boyce, calls for the largest cast of any touring dramatic company for several years. The cast, which will assemble in Wellington next Monday, includes actors from Auckland, Christchurch Wellington, Dunedin, and Hawke's Bay, as well as two from Australia. An international flavour has been added by the appointment of John Kardoss as touring manager. The young Wellington actor, Tim Elliott, will play Romeo opposite Margaret Blaylock, of Auckland, and Virginia Todd, of Wellington, who will alternate as Juliet. Friar Laurence will be played by Peter Varley, of Wellington, and the Nurse by Gay Dean, of Auckland. A strong Christchurch contingent includes many who have achieved notable success in Phoenix Theatre pro-, ductions. Alan de Malmanche, perhaps better known as a producer, has been chosen to play Mercutie, as well as taking Mr Campion’s place as producer on tour. Douglas Nottage will play Benvolio in addition to 17 performances as Romeo, a role which won him laudatory notices at the 1960 “Festival of the Pines” at Brooklands Bowl, New Plymouth. Eric Wood, known to Christchurch audiences for his performances last year in “Othello” and "The Glass Menagerie,” and at present tour manager for Bruce Mason's second North Island tour of his sole recital, "End of the Golden Weather,” will appear as Tybalt. Raeburn Hirsch, who recently returned from the United States, will play Lady Montague and also undertake the duties of wardrobe mistress. Graemm Macnaeil has joined the company as stage manager in addition to appearing in the cast as Pavis.

The tour of “Romeo and Juliet” will open at Hastings on June 17 and will be seen at Levin and Dannevirke before its first major season, at Wellington from June 22 to July 1. From there the company will travel north again to Gisborne, Napier, Waipukurau, Palmerston North, Masterton. Hawera, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Auckland. Rotorua, Hamilton, and Pukekohe. It will then travel to the South Island for a tour which begins at Nelson on July 31, then takes them to Blenheim, Timaru, Oamaru, Invercargill, Dunedin, and Ashburton. The Christchurch season, which will end the tour, will be from August 15 to 19. Recent departures to the New Zealand Theatre Company, also from Christchurch, were John and Christine Batstone, who have been chosen to lead the Drama Quartet on a six months' tour of secondary schools throughout New Zealand. The programme to be presented is being produced by Roy Hope.