Watching a movie with Charles Laughton, and I am reminded of the time I saw him. San Diego, California, 1952 or 1953, and through the Navy, I received a ticket to a play, "John Brown's Body," with Tyrone Power, Judith Anderson, Raymond Massey, directed by Charles Laughton.
I had a great seat, and about the time the play was to start, Mr. Laughton parted the curtain and stepped out onto the stage. He had an apology, Mr. Massey was not feeling well, and he was going to read his part. He further apologized that he had never played the part, and had only seen the script while directing the play.
If you have never seen the play, it is all dialogue, with the Voices of Walter Schumann doing the background music. It is more like a trial, in a courtroom, all lengthy dialogue.
The curtain opened, we applauded Tyrone Power and Judith Anderson, and Charles Laughton, who had an opened script in his hand.
On his opening line, Mr. Laughton glanced down at the script, and throughout the entire length of the show, never glanced back at it again. Just from directing the play, he had memorized the entire script. We all, the audience, were awed by his performance.
At the end of the play, we applauded each performer as they took their bows. Then, Mr. Laughton took his bow, and there was a thunderous applause, from the audience, and the cast. I remember Mr. Power and Miss Anderson, turning and facing Mr. Laughton, and they applauded him, they knew more than any of us, what we had just witnessed.
A memorable, unique, once in a lifetime experience, and, I was there.
