Persuaded To Play “Madam”

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31001, 5 March 1966, Page 2

Persuaded To Play “Madam”

As her days were very full producing a show in Ashburton, Mrs Marjorie Marshall had to be “talked into” playing the lead in the Christchurch Operatic Society’s forthcoming production, “Call Me Madam.”

However, a producer was found to carry on in Ashburton, and Mrs Marshall began rehearsals in Christchurch for the nineday season early in January.

The routine is a familiar one, for Marjorie Marshall has played 14 leads in her 15 years with the society. But her present role is the largest she has known for a woman in a musical, and it is strenuous work.

“There are 10 changes of costume, with five marvellous evening gowns, and a glamorous negligee,” Mrs Marshall said yesterday. For the last four years Mrs Marshall has graduated into producing, but says she still loves being up on the boards. Producing had given her an insight into many stage pitfalls, and these she could now avoid in her own performances-

“Producing is exhausting work, especially in small towns where you have to take people off the street who can sing, but often have no stage experience,” she said.

One of the most exacting tasks is the choreography which Mrs Marshall does not plan beforehand. “When we start rehearsing I watch the cast on stage, think of the meaning of the words, and work out the steps accordingly,” she said. The enthusiasm of amateur performers made them delightful to work with, and added freshness to a production. Mrs Marshall worked with the Australian company staging “My Fair Lady” in New Zealand for several months but preferred the atmosphere of the operatic societies.

With a family tradition of acting and singing Mrs Marshall has inherited many of the necessary skills. She cannot remember a time when she did not sing, but it was on her husband’s insistence that she took singing lessons shortly after they were married.

“The lead in the society’s 'Bless The Bride’ production was offered, and my husband has been urging me on and keeping my scrap book ever since,” she said.

“I was lucky enough not to need speech lessons for I could throw my voice in the theatre, and the dancing came naturally, too. “I also get a lot of enjoyment from singing because I don’t get nervous.” Next year Mr and Mrs Marshall are returning to England, where Mrs Marshall was bom, for a holiday and they hope to see many amateur operatic productions in Britain and the Continent. Television has meant a reduction in audiences for productions in New Zealand, but Mrs Marshall is convinced that the desire to participate in a show will draw people back to live theatre.

“In the meantime we just have to keep going," she said. “This year we particularly need to have a real success with ‘Call Me Madam? We have to pay off the new operatic rooms just built in Sydenham.” Marjorie Marshall cannot imagine life without her singing, and now that her two sons are growing up she is able to move about producing shows in small towns all over the country. “I would hate to be a cabbage, and just stay at home all the time,” she said.