"But why it worked was he was on the stage constantly, identifying people that came and listened to him: 'Hey, have you voted yet?' 'No.' And they got them in line.
In this restless piece the number of dancers on stage is constantly changing, the main couples constantly reabsorbed into the surging currents of the corps.
The role is very demanding; Ruth is on stage almost constantly.
"The four men on stage were constantly on the move -- clacking wooden blocks, scratching a corrugated gourd, flailing away at Chinese gongs, weaving rhythms that were insistent, sinuous and hypnotic.
Atkinson is on stage almost constantly, but as an often silent, almost transparent figure, a hopeless teacher who prises himself from his staffroom armchair to make a gaffe or meekly receive a snub.
Whereas on stage, you're constantly gauging all night long and adapting.
But you're constantly on stage".
Olivier and Guinness were near contemporaries, born respectively in 1907 and 1914, and met constantly on stage and elsewhere over more than half a century.
"When you're on stage," he said, "you're constantly getting this affirmation of, 'You're funny, you're good, we like you.' " But as soon as the laughter ends, he added, "Nobody likes a sad fat person".
Having two Vivs, the older and younger versions, constantly on stage works particularly well, and Brown's score – mixing styles and influences from English folk to popular music of the period – is a pleasure.
