pdf download - Westerly Magazine

"What theatre do you have in Australia, Esson?" he had asked."Nothing sir. Nothing worthwhile. Music hall, English society plays.""Nothing of any worth?""Ibsen sometimes gets done.""Nothing of your own I mean?"Esson became uncomfortable."There's a prejudice against making our own plays," he said."It is the same with us," said Yeats, "but if you listen to the critics you will getnothing done.""We're still a young country," said Esson."How long have settlers been in Australia? A hundred years? Well, Icelandproduced its heroes fully conscious of their own nationality and yet they've beenon their island for less time than you've been in Australia. Some of our writers arecrushed by our history Esson; you mustn't be crushed by your lack of it. Whereyou have people, you have stories.""But you have drawn your stories from a marvellous heritage," said the Australian."But surely in Australia you have strong women, angry men ...""Yes, we do.""Heroes and peasants.""Of heroes I'm not sure, but we're not short of peasants Mr Yeats.""So much the better Esson. The stories you're searching the world for are rightat your feet. Take the play you saw tonight: Riders to the Sea. Synge was lookingfor his stories in the cafes of Paris. All the time they were here, waiting for himto set them down.""U nfortunately Mr Yeats, our peasants don't have quite the turn of phrase of yourpeasants.""Nevertheless, the principle is the same Esson. Keep within your own borders;write about your own people and perform your plays the first time in their midst."Esson had recognised himself in Synge. Not Synge the playwright, but the travellerfor whom Art meant noisy cafes and Paris and picture galleries and dandies andstreet singers. How could anything of worth be made of the aspirations of cattlemen,the silences that passed for conversation, the boredom, the heat and the flies? Yeteven as he listened, Esson noticed that no one had taken such an interest in Australiaas this Irishman. The English naturally assumed you had come to London to learnfrom them."The great thing Esson is to begin. Go back to Melbourne and find some hallor other. Look around for a producer.""A producer!" As if they grew on trees!"Some old Shakespearean who has gambled his fare home, someone escapinga wife in England, someone who has retired from the stage and can't keep still. AskEsson! - you'll find him!""We couldn't afford him!""I'm not talking about paying him man! Tell him straight out that you can paynothing. When he sees that you're serious he'll jump at the chance."Then he paused."Are you serious Esson?""About what sir?""About starting an Australian theatre?""I am sir, yes.""In that case, you must come over to Dublin and see what we're doing."And in December he did. A pious pilgrimage he told his friends, pulling theirlegs before they pulled his. He found Dublin in 1905 a quiet, grey friendly town,not too big, easy to stroll about in and with a great charm of its own. In one street42 WESTERLY, No.2, JUNE, 1989