Adelaide Lithuanian Theatre Group

I have posted before on the theatre group, but from 1956, this post should go before that one.

Adelaide Theatre group

Lithuanian theatre in Australia began in Adelaide in March 1949 on the initiative of Paulius Rūtenis and Elena Danienė, when they formed a Lithuanian theatre appreciation group. That same year in August the group was strengthened by including Povilas Kanas a theatre director and administrator and decorator Aleksandras Marčiulionis.  The group called themselves “Adelaidės Lietuvių Teatro Mylėtojų Grupė” (Adelaide Lithuanian Theatre Lovers Group).  

The group’s first spectacular was in September 1949, “Pirmas skambutis” (first bell) by Genecke Koolen.  Directed by Rūtenis it attracted about 450 spectators.  

That year the group comprised of Elena Danienė, L. Giniotytė, Sofija Kanienė, Paulius Rūtenis (Director), Vitalius Ancevičius, Henrikas Butvila, Antanas Černius, Algis Gutis, Leonas Karmazinas, Viktoras Ratkevičius, Nikodemas Skidzevičius, Bronius Bakšinskas, Bronius Rainys and Algimantas Petrikas. 

After two further performances of ‘the first bell’ on 2 and 3rd June, 1950, for Lithuanian National Day on 8 September 1950 “Paslaptingoje Zonoje’ (Secret zone) about fight for freedom by Laucius.  Directed by E. Daniene.

25 November 1950 “Sudrūmstaja Ramybėje”( troubled peace) by P. Vačiunas. Director E. Danienė, decorations Marčiulionis.  Attendance 400.  At that time Eddie Taparauskas joined the group.  

1951 January 19 and 20th, the group took the performance of the first bell and troubled peace to Melbourne where over 1000 people watched.

In March 1951 the group approached Juozas Gučius, Lithuanian National radio announcer and director.  At this time the name changed to ‘Lietuviu Teatras Studija’.  Further members joined, Genovaitė  Matulevičienė,  Zita Petkunaitė, Zenonas Kučinskas, Aldefas Trinka, Virginijus Užubalis, Paulius Stimburys and O. Pridotkaite.  

In November 1951, Povilas Kanas finished as theatre administrator, replaced by Leonas Žygas.

Mixed Voice Double Quartet Choir

Two quartets, one women’s ones men who sang Lithuanian folk songs.  The choir organised a one off performance on February 16th, 1951 in the Adelaide Town Hall.  From this invitation were extended the choir to perform at the ABC, Nuriootpa wine festival.
Women’s quartet consisted of Leonayda Kilikonienė, Janina Maželiene, D (probably Ona) Naudžiuvienė, E. Duchauskas (who later changed with A. Maželienė).  

Men’s choir consisted of Česlovas Zamoiskis, Jonas Abromas and Mečislovas Rudzenskas and ?.  Jonas Zdanavičius was the musical director.  Soloists were sung by Antanina Gučiuvienė, Elena Rūkštelienė and Paulius Rūtenis. 

Proceeds from the evening went in support of the Vasario 16 (February 16th) Lithuanian high school in Germany.

The group later released two folk songs produced in Chicago in 1952.

It was interesting to note that many of those mentioned soon left Adelaide for the USA.  Leonayda and her husband Vytautas Kilikonis moved to Elgin, Illinois, leaving Australia in 1956. Elena Rūkštelienė, her husband and four children moved to San Francisco in June 1955.  Ona Naudžiuvienė   and her husband, Kostas went to live in Los Angeles, leaving in May 1955. Jonas Zdanavičius also left the Commonwealth on the 29th March 1955, but I wasn't able to find out where he migrated to.  

A write up of the event appeared in the Advertiser.

Lithuanian Music and Dancing 
A concert of Lithuanian music and dancing, given in the Adelaide Town Hall last night to celebrate the Commonwealth Jubilee, was well attended.

In the first half of the programme solos were contributed ay Pranas Matiukas (violin) Elena Rukštelė (soprano) and Vivien Tuck (piano).

National dancers, under the leadership of Maria Grėbliunas, gave three groups of dances in costume during the second half, and a double quartet, conducted by Jonas Zdanavičius, sang groups of folk songs.

A collection of Lithuanian handcrafts was also on view.

The Advertiser 17 Feb 1951

Rosum's Universal Robots R.U.R.

Rosum’s Universal Robots R.U.R
by K Capek

Performed in Adelaide 1953

Produced by: J Gucius

Artist: A Marciulionis

Cast:

Harry Domin, General Manager RUR: V. Ratkevicius

Dr Fabby, Chief Engineer RUR: Z. Kucinksas

Dr Gall Chief physiologist of RUR: B. Rainys

Dr Helman, Chief psychologist of RUR: A Petrikas

J. Berman, Business manager of RUR: A. Gutis

Alquist, that architect of RUR: N. Skidzevicius

Ellen Glory: G. Matulevicius (pictured)

Emma her maidservant: S. Kanas

Marius, a robot: A. Trinka

Radius, a robot: V. Uzubalis

Primus, a robot: L. Karmazinas

A Robot, servant: B. Baksinskas

A Robot: P. Stimburys

Sulla, a robot: Z. Petkunas

Ellen, a robot: S. Kanas

Business Manager: L. Zygas

The Lithuanian Theatre Studio 1953

The Lithuanian Theatre Studio 1953 (Adelaide)

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From left front row: P Kanas, ….A Rukstele (artist), S. Kaniene, B. Rainys, A. Gutis,

G. Matuleviciene, J. Gucius

Second row: L or Z Kucinskas, A. Trinka, ….. Pukelis, V. Uzubalis, B. Baksinskas,

J. Naujalis

Third row: V. Ratkevicius, N. Skidzevicius, L. Kamazinas

First row between B. Rainy and A. Gucius, A. Petrikas

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Derek Van Abbe wrote a letter of thanks to Mr Gucius for the opportunity to see the play “School for wives”. He writes “ I am always impressed with the faithfulness with which European dramatic groups keep on the traditions of the “grand style”, this is something which Australians have lost.

The Theatre Studio

The Lithuanian Theatre studio was formed in 1956 in Adelaide, and as its name implies the purpose is not for an amateur production of stage plays, but for a school of dramatic art gradually bringing its actors to a standard of Professional Theatre.

The Theatre-Studio has based its work on the system “The actor is the creator of fantasy”, therefore it looks to the actor’s individual performance above all production requirements.

In their work each actor must perform various characters and never be a character of his own. This means that the Theatre-Studio is always searching for greater artistic expression.

To act before Australian audiences in English is one of the hardest tasks for the Lithuanian Theatre-Studio, but at the same time it has provided its members with a new approach and enabled them to gain further experience.

The Director Mr J Gucius, is a student of Mr A Sutkus, one of the assistants of the famous theatre notationist Mr F.F Kommissarjevsky. Mr Gucius graduated at High Studio of Dramatic Art supported by the Ministry of Education in Lithuania.

The Theatre-Studio is greatly assisted by Mr A Marciulionis with his settings for the Studio’s productions.

Lithuanian Theatre-Studio has in its repertoire nine plays beside the One Act plays to be presented during the Festival Season of the Studio Theatre. Among them “R.U.R” a drama by K Capek, “The Boor”, a comedy by A Checkov and several other plays by Lithuanian authors.

Studio Theatre programme 1960