THE STAGE IN WARTIME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2944, 2 December 1916, Page 10

THE STAGE IN WARTIME

. DEGENERACY IN LONDON MOVEMENT TO CLEAN UP Here and there welcome, though not too numerous, signs are to be found of an improvement in the tone of our amusements', as the result of my campaign and the support of the "Weekly Dispatch." Instances have been furnished me of objectionable lines and scenes having been cut out, of suggestive banter and vulgar allusions Saving been dropped, but there is much to be done heforo one can say that one is satisfied (writes General ■Sir H. Smith-Dorrien, in the "Weekly Dispatch"). There are still too many nightgown scones, and somo of thesets in revue seem to be based on tho idea of an underlinen shop, judging from- the ; profuse display of underwear and littlei else.' I am given to uriderj stand that it is this weakness for what, ' Sir Herbert Tree calls tho race for tho undress that mars the otherwise unobjectionable revue at the London Pavilion. Fresh.Press criticisms of the HippoI drome revue "Flying Colours" havo been brought under my notice, in par 7 ticular. "London Opinion's" comment on an adipose female measurement scene, but since the revue was first produced, I am assured, the bTue pencil has been used to advantage, so I will say no more for the present. I have received a letter from Mr. Frank i Allen, the managing director of the Moss Empires, which I have personally acknowledged, and the "Weekly Dispatch" inform mo that they have also heard from him. I propose to deal with both letters next week. In passing, I would like to point out that there has never, been any suggestion that Mr. Allen "of his own knowledgo" would tolerate anything that would sully the reputation of tho enterprise he controls; but, of course, the public look to him to check tho acts of commission or omission of his subordinates. I am afraid that tho vulgarisation of our , amusements is often accomplished without the vulgar, taint being perceived. For instance, I am sent the copy of a notice sent out to the newspapers by the representative of Moss Empires. It deals with Mile. Gaby Deslys's bedroom, -, as if such details wero of any earthly 'interest except to a vulgarly curious publie. Wo aro told that one scene .in her !own comedy drama conception, "Mdlle. Zii7.li," "is an exact replica of her bedroom at her town residence. Real ermine and chinchilla ' rugs are used in this, while silken cushions alone- costing £1000 and fashioned for the popular actress's fastidious taste, decorate this scene. Her bed is regally ornate, four golden idols guarding the dais upon which it is erected." I commend this notice to the attention of Mr. Frank Allen. Silly Jests. A trustworthy correspondent sends me a note about turns at tho Holhoni Music Hall. He montions the turns of Alec Kendal and Miss Both Tate as being wanting iii judgment as to what ought to be sung and said, "l.mado a note," he writes, "of Alec Kendal's reference to tho way an Englishman and a Scotsman respectively show their respect for women, and 1, say it is absurd for clever aTtista to include these things in their shows. They wouldn't

liiirt my :morals. They are simply silly. Miss Beth Tate is an artist of such personality that she could get a big salary for singing the alphabet. All the'less reason, then, for such a song; as that about loving a (free) mason., 'because a mason never tells.? .Miss. Tate can certainly, with her gifts,'get along without.such .'sly' songs." My correspondent is a man of the world and not easily moved to censure. If hefinds, room for criticism it can be taken, for granted that he has good ground for it. Letters supporting me continue to pour in, and a striking indictment of the depraved tone of somo of our amusements' they form. A colonel writes that ho had heard complaints of a West End music hall which claimed to be beyond reproach, and, having some time to spare while waiting for a train, he went into it, and came out thoroughly disgusted. An officer tells me that he took his fiancee to another music hall and that she blushed' with shame at what she saw and heard there. One, writer describes a visit to thePaladium in a certain town, and says the entertainment was an extraordinary mixture of the decent with the indecent—the former cheered, the latter received in silence, -showing • that the Nvidely-expressed excuse of managers that the public demand demoralising exhibitions, is not justified. Another writer says: "It is quite a disgrace to see so many dirty pictures even in high-class papers as well as at kinema. shows. . . .' I saw very dirty postcards and prints in a bookseller's window, and there are some of them in better-class shops."