The Omaha guide., 1943-10-23

need Of everyone to take out
settle a series of inter-company
quarrels which were about to dis
rupt the Macbeth" company's
highly successful tour.
Arriving secretly at the theatre
in Indianapolis. welles informed
only a few Of the leading players.
the company manager and the
stage managers of his presence.
After a short conference oncern-
ing the quarrels which had been
going on within the company, he
told them that for the sake of the
company's morale he had decided
to play the role of Macbeth that
evening. Immediately the question
Of finding suitable costumes for
him came up. Maurice Ellis, who
was playing Macbeth during the
tour, is unusually tall and defin-
itely on the lean side, so there was
no possible chance of Welles ever
getting into his tightfitting vei-
vet pants. After %scurrying around
a bit, an extra pair of Hecate's
the Witch Doctor's) green tights.
one Of his large capes and Of
Macbeth's bIousy shirst were the
only items found available. Had
il not been for the elasticity Of the
material Of which Hecate's tights
were made. it is doubtful that Vel
les would ever have gotten into
them.
without any announcement 10
the audience concerning the change
n the plays performance, Welles
walked onto the stage. Even the
ctors and dancers in the opening
witches scene we're somewhat
tartled at first, but from then on
very player in the company gave
ar inspired performance. AS for
Welles. his magnificent perform
ance of Macbeth in that Indianap-
oils theatre on a hot August night,
was a smash event.
Orson Welles' faith in the talent
and ability Of Negro actors to por-
tray parts outside of their W rae
ial sphere was again well demon
strated when he cast Jack Carter
in another Federal Theatre produc-
ton Of a great classic drama- This
was the title role Of the Classical
Drama Units production Of Christ
opher Marlowe's DIR. Fautus," IN
which Carter was the only Negro
surrounded by white players. With
the critical praise which Carter
won for his Performance in the
play, Welles again proved that his
judgement was right.
Weres' next association with
Negro actors came about through
the Mercury Theatres production.
in 1871. Of Native Son" when
was a dramatization by Paul
Green and Richard Wright of the
latter's sensational novel of the
same name. This production also
ende tdhe Orson WeIles-John House
ma nassociation. which began with
the Federal Theatre Negro unit,
continued in the setting up Of the
Federal Theatre Classical Drama
Unit. and finally the establishment
Of the Mercury Theatre. whose
several notable productions on
Broadway greatly enhanced the
Welles reputation.
Native Son" is a powerful and
f~orceful drama Of a young Negro
caught in the web Of poverty and
crime in a large American city.
Welles in his staging of the play
used a large number Of his most
imaginative theatrical tricks. Its
leading part that Of the young Ne
gro. Bigger Thomas. was a sure
fire role for any good actor. but
Canada Lee (he played Banquo in
the Welles aIl-Negro ''Macbeth"D,
under Welles' direction, played it
50 ~impressively that he won the
most notable acclaim Of any actor
On Broadway that eason
Lee is the only Negro actor. hav-
ing worked under WeIles, who :
making the most of that opportun-
ity. At present he is in Holly
wood. working on the goth Century
Fox lot, where he is being filmed
in one of the leading roles in 4Lifo
Boat"