KEY POINTS:
You can't win or lose in theatre - that's why Michael Lawrence likes it. One of Auckland's most prolific but enigmatic theatre practitioners, Lawrence has maintained a low profile throughout his career which now spans nearly three decades.
He isn't a big self-publicist nor has he featured much on television shows or in films. He prefers theatre and is likely to be found appearing in or directing intelligent and slightly alternative productions which provoke as much as they entertain.
This month, Lawrence directs Jim McLarty and Alison Titulaer in David Mamet's volatile two-hander Oleanna.
McLarty plays an unconventional university professor trying to help a struggling female student, played by newcomer Titulaer. The association soon turns bad and a classic power struggle develops where issues of sexual empowerment, free speech and political correctness abound.
Titulaer, whose Opportune Productions is behind the latest reincarnation of Oleanna, asked Lawrence to direct. He wanted to because he feels it is valuable to help young practitioners. "I like teaching people to keep the craft going. If I can help, if my experience and what I have learned is going to be useful in some way, then it's worth passing on."
He doesn't subscribe to the "knock people down then build them back up" school of directing, preferring to use the skills actors bring to a production. That said, Lawrence wants each person to extend his or her range.
It works for some people. Others, he says, get temperamental about stepping outside their comfort zone but for Lawrence, that's what theatre is about.
Born in Auckland and raised here and in Britain, Lawrence was a keen sportsman in his younger years. He played representative rugby, semi-professional rugby league and competed in athletics but despite some success, his heart was never in it.
"You either won or lost. What I like about acting is that on any one night, two people can see you perform and one will think you were brilliant and the other will think you were rubbish. There is no winning or losing. I like that it's subjective and that people have their own opinions."
His introduction to performing came via the New Zealand Hell Drivers stunt team, which he joined aged 17 and soon left because he found it hard to concentrate - a dangerous shortcoming for a stuntman.
A girlfriend introduced him to acting and eventually Lawrence found his way to the Theatre Corporate Drama School where the likes of Raymond Hawthorne and Paul Minifie taught.
Lawrence lied about his previous experience to get an audition: "I had been in a bit of trouble with the law and figured if I could lie to a court, I could lie to a bunch of thespians to get into drama school." When his tutors found out, they were not happy but recognised he had a strong stage presence worth developing.
They were right to back him. Like most actors, he has stints without work but for the most part he has been on stage or directing ever since.
"I actually find directing more nerve-racking than acting. Sometimes I can barely watch and I feel like throwing up. I feel as if I have sucha responsibility to the production, to the cast."
He will be around for the Oleanna opening night but shortly after, Lawrence heads to France to brush up on his language skills. He is working on a production of the French farce Les Chaises for next year's Auckland Festival. Nine performances will be in English; six in French.
Performance
What: Oleanna, by David Mamet
Where and when: Musgrove Studio, Maidment Theatre, Sep 17 to Oct 4
