TOP SPEED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 150, 20 March 1936, Page 16

TOP SPEED

Behind the Scenes at a Revue Of all forms of modern entertainment, probably the most fast-moving is the vaudeville revue, in which one act follows another in rauid succession and the audience is treated to a series of ever-changing scenes. This, of course, demands the height of efficiency “back stage,” for everything must be perfectly timed, the show must not be allowed to lag for one moment.

A peep behind the scenes at the St James’s Theatre, where the O’BrianHart Revue Company is enjoying a most successful season, gives one an excellent idea of just how a modern revue is put on. Everything works at top speedin fact there is a mechanical precision about it all. Members of the cast, the ballet, stage hands and electricians are on the qui vive the whole time, all ready to do exactly what is wanted at the right moment. While an act is in progress, down comes the backcloth for the next one, properties necessary for the scene are put into place, the ballet (if they have to be on the stage at the start of the scene) take up their position, or will take their places in the line in the wings ready for their entrance. Orders of all descriptions are given, the act on stage finishes, the lights go out, a buzzer rings, the orchestra goes into a new number, the lights go on once more and there is the new scene —and all this in almost less than th& time it takes the audience to look in the programme to see what the next turn is going to be. Of course, things, sometimes go wrong, and there is much running around and many orders shouted (as loudly as possible without the audience being able to hear) and many “fireworks” generally. But the audience does pot know that, and they see a set of smiling faces before them when the scene opens and are blissfully unconscious of the fact that things may have been all wrong behind stage, and those very smiles that charm them may have been hard lines of anger a moment before. However, the revue people are a happy crowd. They can usually be seen in groups back stage engaged in lively conversation. Some practice their dancing, others try over their lines, and all seem to take a delight in watching any good turn that may be on. Conversations always take on a “serial” aspect, for just as one starts off on one, so surely does it have to stop while at least one party has to go on stage. Expressions change; the stage smile is brought into being. “Excuse me a minute” is spoken over one shoulder, and the conversation is “continued in our next.” And so it goes on, night after night. The public must be amused, and, in these fast-moving days, it must, and does get its entertainment, especially its theatrical entertainment, presented at lightning speed.