ACTORS PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 145, 16 December 1927, Page 9

ACTORS PROTEST

THEATRE HANGING SCENE

lord chamberlain: intervenes

(United Press Association.—Copyright.* (Received 16th December, 10 a.m.)

LONDON, loth December. The professional hangman, John Ellis, who is appearing in the role of executioner at the Grand Theatre, Gravesend, in the melodrama "The Life and Adventures of Charles Peace," is the centre of considerable public indienation. , . • " The Actors' Association has communicated with the Lord Chamberlain saying that the whole thing is an absolute disgrace. Everybody remotely concerned with the canons of artistic and public taste were greatly concerned at such scenes. The Lord Chamberlain to-day requested the manager of the ■ theatro to appear before him to-morrow in connection- with the scene.

The management say that they fail to understand what the fuss is about. The hanging is quite decent and everybody.; enjoys it. : Mr. Philip Snowden, 'M.P., says the scene is an outrage on public decency. Mr. Arthur Ponsonby, M.P., declares that it is an absolute degradation. ' Colonel -Wedgwood, M.P., says that it is perfectly disgusting. Si r .uHarry Bri«aia, M.P., considers that the scene is a scandal. "I imacine," he said,,"that even the Grand ixuignol would draw the line here " ■ Ellis complains that he must earn a living, as the Government had not granted him a pension. He cannot see what all the trouble is about. la the meantime,, if the show is not stopped, a theatre seven times the size would be wanted to accommodate the clamorous crowds.