Pooch in the pound seats
A NAMELESS SPCA mutt has struck it lucky. Not only has this cocker spaniel landed the role of “Flush”, the trusty companion of British poet Elizabeth Barrett (1806-61) on The Masque Theatre stage from Friday, but his personality has won over a canine loving couple who have adopted him.
The former Durbanville stray will be performing for The Fish Hoek Dramatic Society under his new name “Oliver Philbrick-Hindle”.
What will he be doing in Rudolf Besier’s 1930 romance The Barrett’s of Wimpole Street? No tricks are involved.
He will be brought on stage to Elizabeth at various moments where he is required either to lie on the floor or preferably get onto the chaise longues beside her. At rehearsals he has performed admirably, but who knows how he’ll cope with “first night nerves” under stage lights and an audience….
Like every serious thespian Barrie Howard understands the wisdom of Sir John Gielgud’s famous quote “Never to act opposite children or animals”.
However directing the play about the charismatic love affair between poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, Howard had to find a theatre-friendly spaniel as the dog is a key ingredient in the story.
“I had offers from the public wanting their dog to be ‘on stage’, but all the wrong breeds. Fox terriers, Maltese, Yorkies, etc. were dropped from audition for a very important factor. None of these breeds were featured in 1845, they just didn’t exist. I needed a small dog such as a King Charles or Cocker spaniel,” said Howard.
“So began a search for a breed that did exist in the Victorian era, until Jane Philbrick (who is the production secretary and co-set designer and her husband Aubrey Hindle, one of Elizabeth’s doctors) decided to visit the SPCA hoping to find a suitable dog for Elizabeth as well as a companion for their Jack Russell.
“Low and behold there stood ‘Oliver’ whom they fell in love with immediately. Bringing him to audition and my acceptance was just the cherry on the top. He was theirs to keep, irrespective of my decision.”
Elizabeth Barrett was the first of 12 children born to Edward and Mary Moulton who later added Barrett to their surname name.
Elizabeth, who was affectionately also called “Ba”, was confined to bed after a riding accident at the age of 15. As a result, her life centred on Greek studies, correspondence with many great literary figures of the day and her copious writings.
“Robert Browning, like an enchanted prince, breaks down her prison walls, encourages her to walk again and instilling vitality into her life, despite her greatest obstacle, the tyrannical father who refuses marriage or happiness in his children, and a matter which Robert overrules completely.”
The couple eventually married. When Elizabeth gave birth to their child at the age of 44 she presented Robert with the 44 sonnets she had written which he had never seen or read.
The roles of the lovers will be played by talented newcomer Natasha Futeran and Wayne Ronne who made his actor-director debut last year. Dennis Benneyworth is the domineering patriarch Edward Moulton-Barrett. Others in the cast of 11 include Erika Marais, Jane Cohen, Aubrey Hindle and John McConnell.
The Barrett’s of Wimpole Street was Besier’s only real success as a playwright and he suffered two rejections from London producers and 27 in the USA before the play was staged in both countries.
However when American actress Katharine Cornell took a personal interest in the character of Elizabeth and made it her signature role the romantic tale took off. It went to Broadway in 1931 with Cornell and Brian Adherne and was revived in 1934 and 1945.
Performances at The Masque Theatre Muizenberg are Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2.30pm and 6.30pm, Thursday July 28 at 8pm, Friday July 29t at 8pm and Saturday July 30 at 2.20pm and 6.30pm.
l Book: 021 788 1898