Theatre Booking

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28314, 27 June 1957, Page 3

Theatre Booking

Sir, —The bungling that took place in handling queues formed in the D.I.C. for “The Mikado” calls for loud condemnation. Many were elderly folk who found it necessary to queue, not only for themselves, but for younger people working. The D.I.C. staff were not to blame, but a person, representing, I presume, the management of the opera company, certainly was. Three queues were formed for gallery, circle-stalls, and matinee. I was one requiring both circle and matinee seats, so asked this person how I could manage. “Can’t help you, madam, you will have to join the matinee queue afterwards,” he replied. This, after standing two and a half hours, seemed most unfair. Is this iniquitous method to be employed for each opera? Once in a queue should be sufficient for any seats for all operas, since preferential booking for all operas is not within everyone’s means.— Yours, etc., ENDURANCE TEST. June 25, 1957.

[Mr- Lionel Leary, touring manager for J. C. Williamson Theatres, Ltd., said yesterday that

the arrangements of three queues referred to by the correspondent, which had been made by the D.1.C., was considered to be the fairest method possible to give service to people wishing to book seats. It was realised that people might wish to book seats for matinee performances later in the season, as well as for “The Mikado.” Those wishing to do this could transfer to the matinee queue after booking for evening performances, but surely the correspondent could not expect to go into the matinee queue ahead of those already waiting there for some time. To provide more queues would only increase the number of booking plans to be handled, and possibly lead to confusion and delay for those waiting in queues. The staff at the booking office not only had to handle queue booking but also had to deal with mail booking, party booking, and school booking. “I think the service given to the public by the D.I.C. booking office is a very successful one,” said Mr Leary. “The booking system has been adopted in other centres, where there have been no complaints. There have been large queues, and they have been handled without difficulty.”!