SINGER’S COMPLAINT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 224, 20 June 1939, Page 5

SINGER’S COMPLAINT

Wellington Town Hall Platform ALTERATIONS NOT EASY When approached yesterday about Madame Lotte .Lehmann’s complaint against the ramped approach to the platform of the Wellington Town Hall, and the awkwardness it to singers, the town clerk, Mr. E. P. Norman, agreed that the arrangement was not as convenient as it might be, because of mistakes in the original planning of that part of the hall behind the'platform. There had been complaints about the inconvenience of the ranip up to the platform before, and though some attention had been given to the matter, nothing had been done, except to make provision against draught by providing baize-covered doors for tiie passage which runs across the rear of the platform at the foot of the ramp. There is little doubt, that the platform entrance has its awkward features. On being inspected yesterday it was found that the ramp had a rise of about one in three, that the ramp itself was only 3mt. lOin. in width, and the hand-rail (presumably provided to assist people in reaching the platform) extended only- half-way- up the ramp. After ah inspection Mr. Norman was inclined to think that it would be difficult to provide sufficient space for a dressing-room on either side of the platform, because of the lack of head room, though that might hot be impossible with certain structural alterations. In the view of the town clerk the best idea would be to remove the organblowers (now right in the middle of back-stage) to one side, and take that central space for a dressing-room, which could then be built on a level (or almost so) with the platform (which is four feet in height), still leaving tiie entrance to the platform in the same central position. That would mean that the door of the dress-ing-room would be immediately below the organ console (the seat box). Whether the electrically-driven air-blow-ers, which supply the organ with wind, could be shifted to one side without undue expense -was a matter for others to decide, but, in view of the structural difficulties ‘elsewhere, Mr. Norman said he was convinced that such an alteration would do away with the existing and long-standing grievance on the part of singers. Of course, if that were done, the back-stage approach to the dressing-room would consist of steps or a ramped approach.