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THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1951.
THERE'S a lot of work to becoming an actor with the Young Play“. ers Theatre, some of it going into keeping the barn swept clean
AN OLDER STUDENT shows eight-year-old Heller Halliday,-daughter, of singing star Mary Martin, the proper way to exaggerate her eyebrows for a scene on stage. Makeup comes naturally to "Bernhardts."
TWINKLE. TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
Talented Youngsters Step Behind the Footlights
THE
Perform all of the Roles in an Adult:Play®, THE tremendous success of youngsters on the Broadway, stage has led to the opening of a novel school in Westport, Conn. Struck by the teen-agers' talented performances, two ex-Marine officers-female division-have formed the Young Players Theatre. Their aim is not primarily to train juveniles for the professional" stage, but to develop a repertory company of children.
Before a child is enrolled, the fledgling thespian, is given an audition by the two producers; Virginia Y, O'Meara and Carol Laidlaw, Natural ability and willingness to keep nose to are requisites for acceptance:
After the budding actor-to-be has learned the basic funda- mentala, he may try out for any adult,part. Usually, the fourteens and up capture the leads, while those 18 and below play the featured roles. The youngsters are kept on stage as much, as* possible, but also attend regular classes in pantomime and improvi sation, make-up, stage management and scope designing. Suggestions ure encouraged. Sometimes, their interpretation of a part is used ........ zin/preference to what the author intendedpingesë
The thientra fá housed in a red barn, perennial symbol of the summer: playhouse, which the future "Barrymores" maintain. In their case,It means sweeping up, keeping chairs arranged and moving props. Students help to design and paint sets, make post -sell tickets,N
“THEATRE” is in the blood of these moppets, Instead of going outside and playing during time offstage, they watch as two senior students, rehearse,
~~~FRONT ROW ORCHESTRA'la occupied by a group students during a rehearsal of Quality Street. Late