THE THEATRE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20630, 20 August 1932, Page 18

THE THEATRE.

TALKIES AND THE FLESH AND BLOOD STAGE. VIEWS OF MR JOHN FULLER. Some interesting observations on the present trend of the drama were made by Mr John Fuller, a director Fuller's Theatres, Ltd., who is interested in the theatre and m motion pictures, to a representative of iHB Pkess yesterday evening. An outstanding feature, ia Mr Fuller's opinion, is the opportunity presented to talented amateurs by the popularity ot tho repertory theatre. "When in the south T always go to lnvercargill," said Mr 1' uller, rived from Dunedin last night after spending several days m the south. "Invercargill is connected with oui early successes when we played in old Victoria Theatre, so well known in bygone days. That was at tho time of the Boer War and Mr Martin liagen were then the leading comedians. It may be of interest to theatre-goers of those times to leam that they are still alive and are residing in Sydney. "As far as the talkies and the flesh-and-blood stage are concerned I thinK it is a case of fifty-fifty, 'lhe talkies have to be something good to attract the people and it is the same with the stage. The talkies have really taken Che place of the 'stock' entertainments. Only the great stars can attract the audiences on the stag^. Repertory and the Amateur. "One groat thing about to-day is that it is tho day of the amateur. Mirny repertory theatres are forming in which amateurs, who never had a chance when the stage was at its height, are developing. In a few years there should be a wonderful supply of talent for the stage and the talkies. They receive a fine training in the repertory theatre, which is well SU P" ported, providing judgment m choosing piays is shown. Nearly every town lisis a repertory theatre society and if it is not well supported it is its own fault because it is what the people like. TheSe are hustling times though, and tho plays have to be of quick action. I hope this_ little hint will be of use becauso it is the only difference between success and failure. Thero are a lot of theatres to spare, owing to the change, and the societies should flourish, because of tho support they receive and the reasonable rents of the theatres, whether they are municipally owned or otherwise. The repertory "theatres have a chance ot advancement in the art that they did not have in other days, if they make n study of tho famous stars in great pictures which are not over-frerpient. The Talkies and Correct Speaking. "One thing the talkies have done and that is to awaken the people or every English-speaking nation to the value of correct speaking and the abolition of dialects. The people demand better films, and it is wonderful m the far-back towns how the people respond to better flints which a few years ago they would have laughed at by reason of their not understanding true dramatic art which the talkies have placed at their disposal, even in the smallest towns where the dramatic artists could not appear. These people have now the privilege of seeing the world's greatest artists apart from the enlighteniue; travel pictures and newsreels, which bring tho world to the feet of those who cannot afford to travel. That, in conjunction with broadcasting, makes 11s realise we are living in a wonderful age."