’Lander' cancelled, director resigns

Press, 25 May 1977, Page 6

’Lander' cancelled, director resigns

I he Christchurch performances of the Scottish musical. “Lauder,” have been cancelled by the Otago Theatre Trust because of the poor support given to trust attractions in the citv.

In a telegram to "The Press,” the chairman of the trust (Mr D. J. Lovell) said: "The trust has announced that the planned one-week season of ‘Lauder’ in Christchurch has been cancelled due to the meagre support given trust attractions in the city.” The musical, which is about the life of Sir Harry Lauder, was to have had preview seasons in Christchurch and Dunedin before a national tour in 1978. However, advertisements describing it as a winner, musical magic, and having "terrific vitality” were not sufficient to lure the Christchurch public into the Theatre Royal on a winter’s night. “Lauder” will now be previewed at Invercargill instead of Christchurch.

The change of venue for "Lauder” precipitated the resignation of the trust’s executive director, Mr John Love. In a press statement. Mr Lovell said that Mr Love’s

resignation would not affect ithe trust’s two productions touring New Zealand — “Lauder,” and “Shakespeare’s i People.” Mr Love was instrumental in bringing “Lauder” to New Zealand and told “The Press” past evening that he was certain that the show would ■have been successful in ■ Christchurch. “It is the kind of show i that people love once they [have seen it. It is what we i call a ‘sleeper.’ Before the [show opens, the ticket sales | are poor but once it has | opened it is sold out.” "Lauder’s” first three days in Sydney were poor but after that it was sold out, said Mr Love. He did not expect ticket sales at Invercargill to exceed those in Christchurch I with just one week in which 'to promote the show.

The manager of the Town (Hall (Mr B. P. Connell) was 'not surprised about the decision to cancel the show in [Christchurch. “Christchurch ■ gets more choice of shows 'than Dunedin or Invercargill and its audiences are spoilt

.— they pick and choose what I they see.”

Scottish entertainment was jof limited appeal and the [Christchurch audiences had ijust seen John Cairney who [had enjoyed good houses, ■ said Mr Connell. Poor conditions in the 'Theatre Royal also turned people away. “The days when people w’ear fur coats to the theatre are past. They are not prepared to sit all night in the cold,” he said.

Mr Connell said that Sir Michael Redgrave’s “Shakespeare’s People,” now being performed at the Theatre Royal, would have had greater appeal if it had been at the James Hay Theatre. The house was only half-full on the opening night and last evening.

Probably the strongest deterrent to audiences was the high price of tickets — seats to “Lauder” would have cost $6.90. Mr Connell said that promoting entertainments | was a risky business, and that the Otago Theatre Trust should be more careful in the shows it promoted.