ENTERTAINMENT "CUTS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 14, 17 January 1940, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENT "CUTS."

As all regular theatregoers know, the various theatrical agents -had planned a feast for us last year. We 'had a foretaste in the JJuseian ballet, Lotte Lehman and the Vienna Boys' Choir. Then Richard Crooks dropj>ed a bombshell when he informed the world that he had left New Zealand with a few shillings iu his pocket and that he had been forced to leave his earnings here. Since then, although our neighbour Australia has been with performances from the cream of the world's artists, we in Xew Zealand have been left in ignominious isolation. Surely it 5a time that the Government relaxed its restrictions to the extent of letting us see or hear a few of the great artists. American pictures are still pouring into the country. I presume that this involves a transfer of sterling to America. In Australia the de Basil Ballet Company is. playing to crowded houses. Yet from all I hear we are not to foe included in the tour, for the same reason that kept great artists away from us last year. After all, it is not the fault of the people of New Zealand that the London sterling funds almost disappeared- They were told to spend and spend if they wanted to maintain prosperity. Surely it is time that the Government "let vq" on our punishment a little. THEATREGOER.