NOISY PEOPLE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 126, 1 June 1927, Page 8

NOISY PEOPLE

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Last Sunday evening I appeared at one of the band concerts, and never have my feelings been hurt es they were hurt on tnat occasion. A certain body of the audience, who generally appear in the upper part oftha theatre/especially when the weather does not allow them to stand at the corner ends, were throwing programmes about before the performance began, and were cautioned. ' .Then .1 appeared as the last artist ou the programme. This is a dangerous place on a programme, for, as was the case on the evening mentioned, the preceding artist had hardly finished when the early, goers began to rush off. Bear in mind; some had been sitting, hat in hand, before the preceding artist had begun, ready to rush off when she had finished. I was called to appear, but allowed a few mom-' cnts to pass owing to-the movement without.^! then stepped on to -the^platform, but I could.not get started with my first number, as all eyes were on the upper part of the theatre.. Good : " patrons in the gallery had no possible .chance of hearing, for those I term early-goers were finding the easiest way of exit by jumping over the tops of seata, addressing other companions as they went. I stood, silent until the storm had passed, then began, but left the theatre with my feelings hurt: ; . Nowy magnetism is that something which passes from singer to audience, and. from audience to singer alike. It is that something which holds the audience thrilled and still. The dropping of an article on '-he floor, the rustle of programmes, the slamming of a door, and, worst of all, the • early-goer, are all deadly adversaries of that something. How can any artist hold an audience by forming mind pictures if he or she is to be disturbed by any of the above incidents?: The. artist's hopes are entirely shattered of holding, the audience if a section of .that audience jumps over seats as a means of finding the easiest way of exit. I sincerely hope this will convey to the late-comers, and especially early-goers, as in my case, something of my feelings'.of the 29th. The disturbers gain admission too easily. Were there s> charge, they would be elsewhere.—l am, GEORGE WILSON, A.L.OM.