In the rosy afterglow of their triumphant production of Spring Awakening, LAMTA (Luitingh Alexander Music Theatre Academy) are staging another classic of theatre repertoire – Tennessee Williams’ darkly alluring A Streetcar Named Desire. This ambitious undertaking is facilitated by professional participation from seasoned director Christopher Weare, and the highly acclaimed Emily Child playing the female lead. BEVERLEY BROMMERT speaks to her during rehearsals:
Emily Child describes her collaboration with students of LAMTA as “a treat”. Initially a tad dubious about how it would feel being “so much older than the rest of the cast”, the youthful-looking actress finds this experience not only pleasurable, but also instructive : “I’m learning a lot from the process, and it’s wonderful working with actors not yet jaded by the negative side of our profession; they’re so full of energy and joie de vivre that it’s inspiring. It reminds me of why I chose acting as my career when I was their age .”
Educated in Johannesburg, Child recalls that since Drama at that time was not offered as a subject for Matric at her school, she went off and found a teacher for independent tuition. She was all of 16 years old at the time. “That,” she comments, “is real proof of commitment, but I did have very supportive parents, who were both involved in film making.” As it turned out, by the time she reached Matric, it had become possible to take Drama as a subject, which she did. The rest, to coin a phrase, is history…
Apart from relishing the enthusiasm of her co-actors, she also finds it highly rewarding to work with her current director. “Chris is always open to discussion when it comes to interpretation of character; first he encourages proposals and suggestions from members of the cast, then he offers his own without being overly prescriptive. He always respects the opinions of others, and is a great teacher with a lovely sense of humour.”
She identifies a fine balance between discipline and fun as the strategy justifying his enviable reputation as a theatre director.
Own personal insight
Faced with the daunting portrayal of a character like Blanche, Child explains that she feels the need to bring her own personal insight to the role. “I have seen other versions of Streetcar, but deliberately forgotten them. Myself, I sense that Blanche is cunning, witty and quite wicked; despite her vulnerability she has a feisty side, which is apparent in her relationship with her sister Stella. She also has courage, and I try to focus on that strength in her character – it’s all too easy to caricature her, something which I hope to avoid.”
On the subject of her fellow thespians, she remarks that although Streetcar is an ensemble piece, the leads are central to the action and play a significant part in the work. Stanley is played by Dylan Janse van Rensburg (pictured above with Child), a final-year student at LAMTA with whom she generates the requisite chemistry, and she is impressed by his efforts to find and capture the unpredictability of his persona – not easily achieved by a fledgling performer. “I can’t help feeling protective and nurturing towards the young actors around me; it helps when I remind them we are all equals in this new space. The main thing is that we’re having a good time on the stage.”
One thing is clear: playing the lead in A Streetcar Named Desire is something which Emily Child is thoroughly enjoying, and a pleasure she trusts will prove infectious for her audience.
What: A Streetcar Named Desire
Where and when: Theatre on the Bay from 14 to 24 August 2024
Tickets: Webtickets and the Theatre on the Bay’s box office at 021 438 3300
WS
