Off-Cut: Two

This is an excerpt from an article on the Australian play "Cloudstreet" - an adaptation of the Tim Winton novel. The article appeared in the Melbourne paper "The Age" EG (Entertainment Guide) 2nd July 1999. Its first paragraph provides a very insightful description of the world from the point of view of an Australian actor.

"Cloudstreet with silver lining" by FIONA SCOTT NORMAN

Actors, in their darkest moments, doing yet another show that pays the rent but starves the soul, call themselves "warm props" or "meat puppets". Acting is a deceptively cruel profession; it attracts sensitive, imaginative, emotional people then makes them choose between creative fulfillment or food.

Australia's teeming thousands of trained actors started out believing they would make art and revolutionise the industry but find themselves praying for the 10 second role of "parent" in a breakfast commercial….(Fiona then went on to enthusiastically describe the rehearsal process of the "Cloudstreet" production - director Neil Armfield.)

July 1999