The life of Orson Welles, through the eyes of Richard France

The Auroville Theatre Group’s next play puts the spotlight on Orson Welles and his relentless pursuit of perfection
Michael Oliver as Orson Welles
Michael Oliver as Orson Welles

Richard France, the 80-year-old American playwright and author, has his mentor Leon Katz to thank for urging him to study the work of Orson Welles, the versatile American auteur known popularly as the director of the landmark movie,Citizen Kane. Richard is now a leading authority in the life and work of Orson. But it wasn’t the case always. “What is it about Welles that drew me to him? At first, it was necessity. I was a newly-minted PhD and had just begun teaching college,” says Richard, adding, “That’s when Leon advised me to publish a book and recommended the subject of Orson Welles for the same. There’s much more to him than just Citizen Kane, he told me.” 

That very same night, Richard and Leon drew up a rough outline for The Theatre of Orson Welles: The Years Before Citizen Kane, which was the first ever publication to focus on Orson’s groundbreaking work in radio and the New York theatre, most notably his 1937 adaption of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Richard went on to write his own play on Orson, Obediently Yours, Orson Welles, an adaptation of which, directed by Jill Navarre, will be staged by The Auroville Theatre Group this weekend. Explaining why she chose Orson’s play, Jill says, “The play is a biopic. What inspired me is that it is the story of the resiliency of the human spirit, against all odds, to stay true to a vision and what happens when you do.” 

Therefore, it does not paint a pretty picture of his life, Jill clarifies. “It is full of moments of struggle, disappointment, bitterness and failure. But it is also about the triumph of the imagination. The sweetness of success. And the price you pay for being original,” she says, clearly referring to the continual problems that Orson faced with film studios due to his unflinching demand for creative freedom while working on his projects. She further adds, “The more original you are, it seems, the more obstacles you encounter, because we are living in a world which equates success with making money. Orson Welles is certainly one of the most original artistes of the last century. So he is a touchstone for us, someone who has blazed the path that we follow.”

Starring Michael Oliver as Orson (“he is an old friend who fit the bill perfectly,” says Jill), the play also features Kewal Kartik as Mel and Norma Jean Belanky, who plays a Western singer from the 1980s. The occasion is the day after Welles’ 70th and last birthday, set in a dingy recording studio. Jill says, “It’s in the ’80s and he is a shell of his former self, hoping that Steven Spielberg will restore his long-faded career by under-writing the final edit of his unfinished masterpiece, Don Quixote.” Will he or won’t he? 

At CRIPA, Kalabhumi, Auroville. August 10-11. 8 pm onwards.  

Also at Jagriti Theatre, Whitefield, Bengaluru. August 18-19, 3 pm and 6.30 pm. Tickets available online. 

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