Young actor gets big chance to play opposite Vivien Leigh . An unfortunate illness to the father of Bernard Braden who plays the part of Mitch opposite Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire , has necessitated his flying to Canada , and temporarily relinquishing his part. The understudy , 26-year-old Theodore Bikel , Vienna born , who came from Palestine in 1947 , unable to speak a word of English , takes over his part and thereby gets his first big part , playing with Miss Leigh. Theodore Bikel photographed with Vivien Leigh in her dressing room at the Aldwych Theatre before playing opposite her for the first time. He is reading a telegram of congratulations from Sir Laurence Olivier 26 January 1950