"HOOCH" AND THE PLAY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3149, 25 December 1922, Page 7

"HOOCH" AND THE PLAY.

(By Sadie K. Philpott).

I've always had a. hunch that the trouble with the English theatre is that Hie is much too easy for the audience. No English audience will laugh 4it a musical show unlets the joke has been first tied round with pink ribbon and handed to them on a tray with a label on it. Well, believe me, the American audience isn't pampered like that. For one thing, they go to the theatre in a different frame ef mind. Since prohibition came in they've left off expecting life to have much kick in it, so they're almost pathetically eager for all the pep they can get out of the theatre. Now "Angel Face" is a. ease in point. I lay the poor showing it made tho other night, ..compared with New York, to one thing—prohibition (I guess prohibition can stand being blamed for one more thing. It is a. pity it came too late. We could have blamed the war on it if it had come, say, in 191.'}). But what I mean is this: Londoners have got so used to shows in which; the actors nearly dance, and almost sing, and come within an ace of acting, that they're sort of resigned, and always have a drink of something to fortify them for the worst. Well, that little solace is denied the poor goofs hack in the States. I'm telling you. If you haven't got a letter of introduction to a bootlegger, stating your age, nationality, and pedigree, you're out of luck, and even if you have you've got to get down on your mar-row-bones and plead pretty before he'll let you smell the cork. And look at the difference here. When you feel like a. drink you go round the corner and order from a. list of hooch that would turn a goof back in God's country dizzy just to read' over the titles. Well, look at the difference thiw makes in an audience. In America, they have a milk flip or something before they go to tho theatre. After that . any show is - exciting. "Angel Face" was a. knock-out in New York. It ran three years. Afteia ginger beer it seemed quite devilish. But hero the audience simply sat on. their bands. ] never saw a. glummer row of goofs than the dramatic critics. ; They even had to send Winifred , Barnes out to keep the audience quiet. Tho hero also did bis best. He was a. i nice young man, very clegent and slim. About eleven inches through, I should judge. i But neither of them had a, chance. - 1 reckon every critic there, not to men- ; tion the audience, had had a whisky , and soda, before be came to the theatre. , They expected the poor, hard-working , actors to top it. .< It's all a matter of comparison. And , if you don't think there was enough ,' pep in "Angel Face," don't blame the show. Blame the people who are always knocking Pussyfoot. If you bad prohibition in England you'd think "Angel Face" was a devilish line show, i (let it? 1 Why, the very fact that it ran three J years in America ought to make an. i English audience laugh. >