MID-OCEAN THEATRE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7349, 2 December 1907, Page 1

MID-OCEAN THEATRE.

Mr Charles Frohman's latest idea is to produce plays on the great Atlantic liners, and he is negotiating with the Cunard Company for the- addition of theatres to the Lusitania and Maurotania.

Mr Frohman's dominating idea ; is to make London and New York mere suburhs in a theatrical* sense, and to have a constant interchange of plays and players. But the expense of taking a theatrical company across the Atlantic is very great, and thisj it is suggested, might be 1 more easily borne if plays were produced during the journey. "First night" in mid-ocean would have an ©lemont of romstuco, and in the case of a soa play an element of reality with which theatres ashore are unable to compete, There would be no lack of audience with vessels carrying, as the Lusitania does, between two and three thousand passengers. The vast saloona of the great Cunard, White Star, and German boats oould comfortably seat audiences of over five hundred people, and little structural change would be required to provide a stage. Only in very severe weather would thp motion of the larger "liners interfere with the performances, During the ( summer tourist season the profits, it ia anticipated, would be handsome. "I think the expense part of the difficulty has been solved," says Mr Frohman. "The arrival of the Lusitania, with 2000 passengers aboard, gave me the idea. Why cannot I send an American company to London evpr-y fortnight, playing thorn right across the Atlantic, with a loss, of perhaps only a few performances on the way ?

"I am now negotiating with the Cvtn ard Company to add to the othgr departmental equipment of the Lusitania and Mauretania stage facilities for giving complete dramatic performances. I will have plays and playa<s ready. ' '' "* '"