Will Waspe
The eleventh-hour absence of Gayle Hunnicut from the leading role in Therese — it was announced on the afternoon of last week's* opening night, at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre that an attack. of laryngitis had necessitated her immediate departure for the South of France — came as no great surprise to her fellow members of the cast. They had noticed that Miss Hunnicut had seemed singularly over-tired during the rehearsals, and indeed it is said that her condition had so deteriorated by the final dress rehearsal that she was able to utter barely a line.
Nevertheless this was all distinctly rough on the rest of the company, who had looked forward to some major provincial dates and a West End season after the, Guildford premiere_ Though the play also stars such distinguished performers as Joan Miller, Laurence Hardy and John Castle, without Miss Hunnicut it was felt that these plans had to be called off. It seems curious that there are no Equity rules covering this sort of situation.
Troubles enough
Not that I should wish to add to the burdens of Equity, which has troubles enough on its hands at this time. Last week's re-affiliation to the TUC is as unpopular with part of the membership as the previous decision to register under the Industrial Relations Act had been with the left-wing elements. Now further controversy comes into Equity's affairs with its publication of a report from its 'Coloured Artiste Committee' on an apparent discrimination against black performers on television. Whatever might be said on this question — and the Committee has a point or two to argue — the case is • hardly improved by statements such as that by Isabelle Lucas that black actors should be taken into subsidised theatre companies "and play such parts as Shylock or Macbeth." I recall one such company once casting a black actor as Malvolio — thus giving a gratuitous racialist flavour to his line about one of his 'complexion'.
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