Further recollections by a Moby Dick – Rehearsed cast member have been unearthed.
Wellesnet veteran Seth Alexander Thévoz discovered a video interview online with the late Kenneth Williams (Very Serious Actor/Elijah) recalling the summer 1955 production at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London. The Network interview (see below) took place circa 1978 when Williams was filming the Peter Cook – Dudley Moore comedy The Hound of the Baskervilles.
In his autobiography Just Williams, published in 1985, he gave an overview of Moby Dick– Rehearsed and working with Welles. (“Orson could change in a moment from thunderous denunciation to a humourous chuckle over a remembered incident, and his anecdotes always enlivened rehearsals.”)
The comedic actor was known to exercise a cutting tongue, which is evident in diaries published after his death. Of Welles, he wrote, “Orson Welles may be a brilliant ‘personality’ but he knows nothing about producing a play. His lack of ability is bitterly apparent. The only difference between him & the other bogus English directors is this swank personality, and New York wisecracks.”
Additional excerpts from Williams’ autobiography and diaries related to Welles can be found in this posting on the Wellesnet Message Board.
Besides this circa 1978 interview with Williams, Wellesnet has included an excerpt from 1983’s An Audience With Kenneth Williams, where he also discussed the stage production.
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