SCENE IN THEATRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 7

SCENE IN THEATRE.

FIRST NIGHT "ROW." NOTED GERMAN ACTOR. ANGRY LONDON CROWD. Police were rushed to the Shaftesbury Theatre, London, to deal with a wild anti-Fascist and anti-Hitler demonstraI tion—one of the most extraordinary outbursts ever known in a London theatre. The house was crowded with the cream of first-nighters. In the stalls and boxes were Lady Diana Cooper, Lord Greenwood, Mr. Noel Coward, Mr. Gordon Selfridge, Lady Ravensdale, Viscount Hambledon, Lady Lytton, Mr. Maurice Baring and many others.

J The demonstration was obviously an | attempt to wreck the first-night appearI ance of the famous German actor, Wer!ner Krauss, in Gerhardt Hauptmann's "Before Sunset." It failed—thanks as much as anything to the cool presence of mind of Miss Peggy Ashcroft, one of the principal players. There had been rumours of a demonstration, but no one took this seriously. The play opened quietly, and had proi ceeded for a minute or two. Then as I the strains of the "Blue Danube" waltz were heard, there was a hubbub in the gallery, some shouting, and the sudden I descent of a shower of leaflets. j Dozens fell in the stalls, on the heads j of the men in their boiled shirts and the i women in their gay evening apparel. The leaflets read as follows: —"A message to I Hitler through Werner Krauss—We want British actors for British plays, not Nazi actors. Boycott Hitler. Buv British." The actors tried to go on, Miss Joyce Bland taking the brunt of the demonstration. "We want British actors for British people. Down with the Nazis," shouted the demonstrators. Pounced On.

Policemen were soon stumbling down the gangways and over seats in an effort to reach the men, who continued their demonstration. Women screamed. Angry shouts came from the audience. A man

| stood up in the circle and made a violent anti-Hitler speech. He was pounced upon by policemen and forcibly dragged from the place.

I This first interruption lasted only a | minute or two. Then the play proceeded I quietly for a little while. But again there came signs of trouble in another part of the house. A Trim Figure Appears. "Shut up now and have your say afterwards," roared a voice from the stalls. The hubbub grew. There was the shrill blast of-a police whistle in the gallery. The curtain fell. A trim little figure in a blue frock with a white collar pushed through from the stage and faced the uproar quietly. It was Peggy Ashcroft. She stood there a moment. The house became quiet. She put up her hand and said:—"Please —please. There are 30 English actors and actresses behind this curtain to-night, as well as all our friends in front, and we are all proud of the privilege and happiness of playing with this great artist. I only wish those who do not wish to hear us would not come—or would please stay away." A Crash of Applause. There was a crash of applause and then silence. The play went on. When Werner Krauss himself appeared later in the first act there was a hush of expectancy.

He came slowly down towards the footlights, a dignified white-haired figure in blue lounge suit, with stock and black walking stick. He reminded one somehow of Lord Oxford. His keen eyes searched the audience. He waited a moment. Nothing happened. Then he went on with his part.

There were no further interruptions. The police had apparently removed all the offenders, who were said to number about 20 or 30. No arrests were made. An official at the theatre said some stink bombs were thrown during one of the demonstrations.