The Piscator Notebook by Judith Malina

Author:Judith Malina
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2012-06-13T16:00:00+00:00

Tuesday, April 10, 1945

Directors’ Council. At last I have a job! I am assistant director for the reading of Euripides’ Electra, but as it is Miss Montemuro whom I assist, I can only hope that I will have no difficulty. It is good to have the opportunity, and I will try to make the most of it, though Electra is rather a hard thing for a beginner.

In Theatre Research class, we discussed The Sheepwell with the actors commenting on their roles. Vicki Paul, as Laurencia, said that what she needed was an extra 20 pounds. I know what that means. Mr. Piscator added that of course, she was absolutely a city type, though she played the rural girl as well as she could. Although he does not believe in typecasting, he realizes that the slim, chic Vicki is not destined to play peasant women. Bob Carricart, speaking of his part, said that he knew that all the world loves a lover and was confident that the audience did likewise, and relying on this, he relaxed and played the lover. To which Piscator added, “Yes, even when you were tortured you smiled very carefully to show your nice teeth.” Mengo, played by Louis Guss, was the only really perfect piece of casting, and it certainly was a fine portrayal. Louis was able to justify all his actions.

The guest actors then commented on their roles. Dennis MacDonald met a particularly daunting challenge which he overcame masterfully. Having worked with Dennis before on a play called Comic Supplement, or, My Mother-in-Law, which I performed for soldiers as part of the war-effort under the sponsorship of the American Woman’s Service Organization (and which was rather unsuccessful), I admired his capacity for characterization. In The Sheepwell, he played two roles incorporated into one, and also played the judge. The two incorporated roles were conflicting characters, and the fact that Dennis could assimilate them at all was an achievement in itself. His diligence and thoughtfulness are admirable.

Two years ago Dennis had just come to New York from Iowa and all of us who worked with him saw every chance for his success. Now for two years he has done very little work on Broadway and still has not reached a point of steady employment even though, because of the war, there is a male shortage on Broadway. What peril, then, do I face, much less able to play a stock role, nor as versatile nor as physically attractive and, worst of all, a girl?

Ray Hinkley, another guest actor, was saluted for being wounded in action, having sustained a broken wrist when he was “slaughtered” by the ladies of the cast. He is a war veteran playing his first role. He put too much into it, playing almost too intensely. Harold Dyrenforth, who was not present, was criticized by Piscator for playing “too much the Nazi officer.” Mr. Piscator thought of the role “more in Charles Laughton’s vein.” The criticism that I agreed with entirely, was that

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