STAGE “COME-BACK”

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 266, 6 August 1931, Page 5

STAGE “COME-BACK”

Encouraging Signs MANY NEW PLAYS Costs of Musical Comedy “When some four years ago only David Wark Griffith, perhaps the greatest moving picture producer the world has know-n, said that talking films would practically wipe out the legitimate stage, he was, subjected to a good deal of criticism, said Mr. F. Blackman, the English producer of “Sons o’ Guns,” yesterday. “Some, of the shrewdest of managers in America and, England openly laughed him to scorn. They could not accept the idea that any thi”-- on earth r above it could attack such an impregnable institution as the stage. They are wiser men now. . They have been taught that great revolutionary changes in the world are not confined to politics and religion. The talkie pictures came, they were seen (and heard), and they certainly conquered. It was very nearly a death-blow to the stage. “ dreds. perhaps thousands, of theatres, the world over, hitherto devoted to the legitimate stage, revue, and vaudeville, went over holus bolus to the pictures, and for a considerable time reaped a rich harvest. Many still continue to do so.” “In the larger centres of the world, the stage has maintained the siege against the pictures valiantly.” continued Mr. Blackman, “though in most cases at the expense of vast deficits in revenue. But the Greathearts of the business have persisted with fine courage, and the number of new plays that have been produced during this last season in New York and London indicates that there still remains a marked vitality, which may produce healthy results in the not very distant future, however discouraging the present outlook may be.” “The courage I refer to is exemplified in the tour of the ‘Sons o’ Guns’ musical comedy company now in Wellington. Tljere has been nothing to justify such enterprise in recent months,” said Mr. Blackman. “I am t’o believe that the tour of ‘The First Mrs. Fraser’ company, good as it was, was not a financial success; yet J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have taken their courage into their hands and sent to New Zealand a full-dress musical comedy company, comprising some sixty people, which number has been augmented here to over seventy ' Now. apart from the travelling expenses and the big pay-roll needed for such a little army of entertainers, this coinnany involves the expenditure of much money in the Dominion. There is. of course, the New Zealand share in the original production—scenery, dresses, and effects, as well as the performing rdvalties for the play. On top of that, there are the orchestra and conductor, tile ballet master and, the ballet, the stage hands and mechanics, theatre rents. advertising, and a hundred and one other expenses which have to be met. In short, it takes something like £l5OO a week to enable this company to pay its way. without shoeing a peilny profit.” “ ‘Sons o’ Guns’ is a sound show.” Mr. Blaekmau added. “The company which plays it so entertainingly, has other musical comedies in its repertoire, one of which (‘Follow Through’) is in rehearsal, at the present time. If the requisite encouragement is given in the way of box office returns, its stay in New Zealand could possibly be prolonged,