STAGE SUPERSTITION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 61, 23 December 1935, Page 6

STAGE SUPERSTITION.

USE OF NATURAL FLOWERS. A superstition concerning the use of natural flowers on the stage was referred to in the King’s Bench Division, London, last month, when a blonde actress, Miss Norah Chapman, claimed damages for alleged wrongful dismissal. Defendants were the proprietors of the Windmill Theatre, Piccadilly Circus. On October 30 last year Miss Chapman entered into a contract with them for one year at £l2 a week to appear in their productions known as “lievudeville.” She was summarily dismissed on September 7 last. Defendants pleaded they were justified in dismissing her owing to her conduct. It was alleged she refused to take a part allotted to her; refused to wear a military costume on one occasion, and “walked” through her part without rehearsing it. Other allegations were that she was habitually late at rehearsal; made frequent objection to the costumes designed for her, displayed temper and made violent scenes. It was said that on September 27 she refused to obey an instruction of the stage manager to use a red and white carnation, which formed an important part of the scene. Mr Cartwright Sharp, Iv.C., for plaintiff, remarked that actors and actresses were very superstitious. For instance, natural flowers wcro not taken on to the stage. But on one occasion Miss Chapman was given a red and white carnation to wear, and it very much upset her. Miss Chapman, in the witness-box, said she sometimes cried when upset. She was not bad-tempered and did not upset the other members of the company. It was untrue that, after wearing the real flowers on the stage, she “literally shrieked the place down.” It was not a fact that she deliberately made a scene. Mr David Henley (assistant secretary to British Equity) said the superstition about taking real flowers on to the stage was no doubt founded on the fact that if natural flowers were dropped on the stage they might lead to an accident. Mr Doughty, ICC,, opening the defence, said Miss Chapman was.a very clever artist, but at times her conduct was unbearable. Mrs Laura Henderson, one of the defendants, said she had no idea of running the theatre for profit, and had lost money. One hundred and thirty people were employed there weekly, and they were a perfectly happy family. “From the manager to the call boy they are my friends, and I love them all,” Mrs Henderson declared. . Mr V. Vandam, general manager at the theatre, said that when Miss Chapman objected to wearing the real flowers artificial ones could not bo obtained, it being ,Saturday evening. The hearing was adjourned to give the parties concerned an opportunity to come to an agreement.