Drama Tuesday - A Trip to the Theatre Remembered

The Maj, Hay Street Perth

When I was sitting in The Maj for the WAAPA production of Crazy for You, I was reminded of the first time that I went to that theatre. I was maybe 12 or 13 visiting Perth for the summer holidays with my family. As a thanks for putting us up in Perth, my Mum bought tickets to the hot show of the year My Fair Lady on the tail end of its Australian tour for JCW. I somehow  managed to wheedle my way into going with them. 

The Maj in those days was not the plush ruby velvet smoothness of the refurbished theatre today.

The Maj, Hay Street Perth

It was late January. Summer heat beating on the asphalt drum of Hay Street. No air conditioning.  And worn saddle haired seats in the stalls, with a squint around the infamous pillars. The theatre was sweaty full, heaving. The audience laughed and loved the show. Stuart Wagstaff played Henry Higgins but I can’t tell you anyone else in the cast.

I was fascinated by the experience. In particular, I remember taking note of the senses where a scrim curtain was drawn across to a scenery piece on a trick from the wings while a scene change was happening behind. I think it was for On the Street where you live and maybe Get me to the Church on time. Even at that age I was interested in how the stage magic all happened. Even now, I continue to be looking through the performances to  how they happen.

The performances were raw, natural and energetic. This is by contrast to the WAAPA production where all the actors on stage were miked; where the lights automated, plotted to follow the dancers. Theatre is vastly different nowadays. And the training of actors sits in the lap of universities; by contrast those actors I saw in the JCW production would have come through the apprenticeship of hard knocks and handed-down advice: always turn on your downstage foot. 

There is a coda to this story. On the journey home from Perth on the Transcontinental there  was a group of young actor types gathered around the piano in the club car exuding cheery bonhomie. It was a different time when actors didn’t fly but took the leisurely cross continent journey home.  

As a brash teenager I nervously accosted one of them in the waves corridors and asked  if they were in My Fair Lady? I saw he production! A little taken aback he said he was and I had my moment of fandom. But the after effects of seeing that production lingered long after that fleeting moment. I   look at  productions to see how the performance is made. Behind the magic of being in the moment is the ticking of process.