There is Nothing like a Dame A novel by Bronwen Welsh Copyright© 2017 Bronwen Welsh A sequel to 'The Might-Have-Been Girl' and 'All the World's a Stage'

Chapter 9   Performing at 'The Globe'

Just before I drove down to Stratford to be present at the auditions, I received a very nice condolence card from Magnolia and Hiram Thompson. Magnolia included a hand-written note in which she said “I lost my Mom when I was only sixteen and not a day has passed since when I haven't thought of her and missed her.” She went on to say that she and Hiram still looked forward to welcoming me into their home, but there was no rush and I should only come if and when I felt able to do so.

In these days of emails and printed material, receiving a hand-written letter is special, so I took out a pen and paper and returned the compliment. Thus started a correspondence which has lasted to the present day. I wrote that my Mum had made me promise not to put my career on hold after she had passed. I told her about me being about to play in 'Much Ado about Nothing”, and also taking on the job of Assistant Director for a second time, something which would enable me to make a bigger contribution to Hiram's theatre when I came to America. This I hoped could be arranged for the near future as I would be free once the season at the Globe had finished.

I had already been in touch with Richard, my agent, and he was very pleased to hear that I was back with the 'big boys' again. I also informed him that after discussion with Reggie and in accordance with my Mum's wishes, I would be available to go to America in the middle of the year. That made him very happy! I think he accepted my occasional forays into regional theatre, namely the Apollo Players, with amused resignation. I suppose he was used to actors being mildly eccentric, even though I'm sure he thought I was wasting my time doing so.

Back at Stratford, I was starting to get used to sitting with Chris the Director and Gwyneth Soames, the ISC's Artistic Director while the auditions were being held. I was quite in awe of Gwyneth who had worked in the past with Sir Peter Hall whilst he had been at Stratford. I naturally started by addressing her as Miss Soames, but she was very approachable and told me to call her Gwyneth while we were working on the casting.

Each of us had a clipboard with details of all the actors who were auditioning for the parts. I was very much aware that I was the junior member of the trio, but they still encouraged me to have an input into the selections. In some ways it felt like 'playing God'.

“A couple of tips for when you are casting for plays,” said Chris. “Never chose someone just because you know them. It's a very human reaction to want to surround yourself with familiar faces, but on the other hand, don't not choose them if they are the best person for the rôle.”

Gwyneth nodded in agreement, and I made another entry in my notebook. All this information was like gold, especially in view of my forthcoming trip to America when I might well be involved in cast selection on my own or at least as the senior selector.

There were a number of candidates for each rôle and only one person could be offered the position with another having the chance to be the understudy. With this power came responsibility since the wrong choice of actor could affect the whole production. I was glad that while they asked my opinion, Gwyneth and Chris between them made the ultimate choices. In the main, I'm pleased to say my choices agreed with theirs.

Mike Jacobs who had performed in “Two Gentlemen” was selected to play 'Benedick' against my 'Beatrice' and I was pleased when Viola Edwards won the rôle of 'Hero'. While to modern ears that sounds like a male part, 'Hero' is actually a young woman and a cousin to Beatrice. The other cast members were new to me, although I had seen some of them around the theatre.

The season at the Globe was going to last for six weeks and Vi asked me if I'd be interested in sharing a two-bedroom serviced apartment for that time. I was happy to agree as I had no wish to live on my own in London. Reggie promised to come down each weekend that he could, but I knew he was involved with football, playing for the university, so I didn't expect to see him too often. Vi had something to ask me, and judging by how embarrassed she looked I guessed what it might be.

“You know that Mike and I are seeing each other, do you mind if he stays over some nights?” she asked and was very relieved when I said that was fine by me. As it turned out, the walls in the apartment were rather thin and some nights I could hear much smothered giggling and other sounds. Fortunately, I am a good sleeper, so it didn't really disturb me, but it did make me rather circumspect when Reggie stayed the night! A couple of weeks after the auditions, when the cast was finalised, we headed down to London to start rehearsing at the Globe.

I will not go into great detail about this as it can be boring for non-theatrical people. I recall once, thinking that I should read some of the classics, I tackled Herman Melville's 'Moby Dick'. I quickly learned more about cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises, of which there are more than eighty species), than the average person needs to know. Finally, I was forced to skip whole chapters for fear I would die of boredom and never finish the book!

On the subject of acting, there are many texts, including, if I may include a shameless promotion, my own “The Young Actors Guide to Performing Shakespeare”, which I wrote some years back with the encouragement of Dame Emily, who wrote the Foreword. It includes a whole section on performing on a thrust stage and I was surprised and pleased with the number of copies that have been sold.

The season started and ticket sales were very good. The public knows that any production by the ISC will be a good one if I say so myself. The critics were generous and included some very kind comments about my contribution. Emma had volunteered to take over the scrapbooks in which so many reviews and pictures had been lovingly stored by Mum, and when I cut them out to post to her, the memories came flooding back and I confess the tears flowed. I had wondered if Emma would cope with what must have been a reminder of her own career put on hold, but she seemed quite happy to do it.

A couple of weeks after the season started I received a phone call from Richard, my agent. He had organised for me to travel to America two weeks after the Globe season finished. I was glad of that since I wanted a short break to be Mrs Staunton before starting on my new assignment.

Due to the open-air nature of the theatre, performing at the Globe involved more afternoon matinées than in fully enclosed theatres. It was at the Globe that I experienced for the first time performing outdoors while it was raining. Fortunately for the performers, the canopy over the stage kept us dry so long as we stayed towards the back of the stage, but the poor 'groundlings' were thoroughly soaked since while they were allowed raincoats, they couldn't use umbrellas. However they all seemed to think it was part of the experience of attending a Shakespeare play as it would have occurred back in the sixteen century, and very few walked out.

Some performances were termed 'relaxed', that is to say, audience members including people with autistic spectrum conditions, sensory and communication disorders or people with learning disabilities were welcome to attend. This meant a more relaxed attitude to normal audience etiquette. Families were welcome to bring along small children and even people suffering from dementia. As actors we were expected to cope with people calling out, babies crying and even to interact with the audience more than usual. It certainly taught us to think on our feet. I thought it was a wonderful idea to make Shakespeare more accessible to people who otherwise might not have been able to attend a play, and stored it away in my notebook as something which I might suggest introducing during my American trip.

One afternoon when I was in my dressing room after a performance and changing out of my costume, the telephone rang. It was Eric who manned the little office just inside the stage door.

“There's a Mrs Louise Burton here with a young lady. She says you know her and was wondering if you'd have time to see her?”

We all appreciate having someone like Eric at the Stage Door. Occasionally fans can get too demanding and there are even some who convince themselves that they are in love with you, and worse still, that you are in love with them. It pays to have a 'gate-keeper'. This was different. I knew Louise Burton from the time I stayed with her when I was performing in 'Dear Brutus' in London, my first professional rôle. I also knew her daughter who started life as her son. I recounted all this in my first memoir 'The Might-Have-Been Girl'. I had last seen them in Stratford and knew that Antonette, her now-daughter was developing into a very pretty young lady, so I asked Eric to tell them that I would be there shortly.

“Hello Mrs Burton, it's so nice to see you again; hello Antonette,” I said.

Louise Burton greeted me warmly, and Antonette blushed as she said “It's nice to see you again Miss Stow.”

“Call me Harriet please,” I replied. “Officially I'm Mrs Staunton now since I married Reggie recently, but I'm still Harriet Stow when I'm working.”

“Congratulations, my dear,” said Louise. “He's a lovely young man.”

“I was just about to go for a coffee and sandwich between performances,” I said. “Do you have time to join me?”

“That would be wonderful,” said Louise. Antonette seemed to be struck dumb and hadn't said a word after our initial greeting. I put it down to acute shyness. We walked to a local café and put in our orders.

After sitting at the table, I said: “What brings you here?”

“Antonette saw the advertisement for the play at the Globe and your name was mentioned, so we came along to see the performance.”

“I hope you enjoyed it,” I said.

“Oh yes, it was wonderful and so were you,” said Antonette who had suddenly found her voice.

“I'm so glad; we actors thrive on positive reviews,” I said with a smile.

“Antonette has something to ask you,” said Louise, and at once Antonette coloured up again.

I smiled encouragingly at her.

“I, err, well I really enjoy performing and I'm going to an acting class that meets on Saturday mornings. I'd love to do Shakespeare but they don't really seem interested, so I was wondering, if you had time that is, whether you'd be willing to come along and tell us a bit about acting Shakespeare?” She paused. “I spoke to Miss Carson who runs the group and told her I knew you. She said you would be very welcome if you had the time to come along, but she seemed to think you'd be far too busy.”

I knew that this was giving me an 'out', but I resolved not to take it.

“I'd be very happy to come along, but I might have a problem with getting back to the theatre for the matinée on Saturdays,” I said. “Whereabouts does the group meet?”

“It's in Finsbury Park,” said Antonette and her face fell, anticipating my refusal to attend.

“Let me check my diary of performance times,” I said and consulted my diary. “Well this is good news, on Saturday in two weeks we don't start until three o'clock. If I can leave by twelve that should give me time.”

Antonette brightened up immediately. “We start at nine o'clock, would that be alright?”

“I'm sure it would,” I replied. “Can you give me Miss Carson's phone number and I'll call to to check that it's alright with her.”

I was so glad that I didn't have to disappoint her and in fact I'd had an idea which I wasn't going to mention just in case I couldn't arrange it, but two weeks might just give me enough time.

My next job was to talk to the Managing Director at the Globe and also run it past Chris. I was very pleased when they both reacted very positively to my idea.

When I phoned Miss Carson she seemed slightly overawed that I was calling her.

“Miss Stow!” she exclaimed. “Antonette told me that she knew you but I never thought you'd have the time to call.”

It occurred to me that Miss Carson was 'stage-struck' and regarded actors as superior beings. Perhaps she'd had hopes to perform professionally herself but hadn't made it past the amateur stage. I did my best to put her at her ease.

“Antonette tells me that she really enjoys your classes and was hoping that me visiting might interest the class in performing Shakespeare. I'd be happy to help if I can.”

I went on to confirm the date of my visit and also my suggestion which was received with open arms.

“The children will be so excited,” she said, and I hoped that she was right.

To be continued

Many thanks again to Louise Ann and Julie Phillips for their knowledge and eagle eyes that pick up my 'typos' and grammatical errors .