GREAT NIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1934, Page 11

GREAT NIGHTS

IN THEATRES OF OLD

WILL THEY COME AGAIN ?

Mr. Leo flu Chateau writes: —

"The glamour of the theatre." To step from the wet pavement on a winter's night into the house of illusion. To sit expectant before the curtain; to enter into a now world with Acts 1 and 2; to thrill with the climax of Act 3, and to carry that thrill with, you as you step back into tho wintry street regardless of wet and cold. To have known groat nights lileo that is to haw. lived —their memory a priceless possession. Aru .«ueh nights possible now that the shadow show lia.s replaced the flesh and blood people of tho Shakespeare, Ibsen, Snrdou, Maugham, Jones, and other "dated" plays? The Gilbert and Sullivan operas, the burlesques, the pantomimes—with their gorgeous transformation scenes and the kiddies' delight, the harlequinade —and the great German and Italian grand opera companies. We walked above ourselves when wo walked out. into the night after transcendental performances by Brough and Bouceicault, Titheradge, Bignold, Maggie Moore, J. L. Toole, Billy Elton, George Lauri, Teddy Lonnen, Harry Shine, Marie Halton, Nellie Stewart, Violet Va'rley, Florence Young, Alice Lehbridge, the Simonsens, to mention only a few at random. De we walk above ourselves after a night at the cinema? After a performance of "The Dubarry" 1 found the spirit of the old theatre reincarnated; in Sylvia Welling and her most excellent; company the grand traditions of the past arc restored. The visit of this company — and I stress the fact that I am in no .way connected-with the company or management—involves something moro than' the visit to New Zealand of a supremely-talented theatrical star, a born actress and singer whose art comprises, in the character of the Cointcsse Dubarry, almost tho entire range of the theatre—or the revival of old atid delightful memories, but it involves the question whether Now Zealand can give a patronage to this courageous enterprise of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., which will warrant tho sending over of other big attractions at present in Australia. Tho Mayor believed it would, in 'his words of welcome to Miss Welling at a recent reception to hor. Almost evory day someone asks me, "Do you think the stage will over come back?" to which I answer confidently, "Yes, if you who know its valuo will work to that end." The visits of such artists as Sybil Thorndike and Sylvia Welling are a wonderful education to the thousands of young repertory players throughout -New Zealand, for they are afforded a unique opportunity of seeing a great tragedienne and a great musical play actress who hayo won the highest distinction in the different art centres of tho world. Is the public willing to mako it possible ttjat eminent actors. and actresses may continuo to visit us in person and- keep alive the art that created and sustained tho theatre, of Shakespeare, or is tho public so little concerned that they will allow them to be driven by economic pressure to the film illusion. I feel that "The Dubar»y"_ tour is of critical importance in deciding that issue. I feel I shall not incur reproach, even from the film world, for making this appeal, nor do I_ think your generosity iv publishing it will be unappreciated by all those who havo tho welfare of the legitimate stage at heart. In the spirit of the prologuo to "Henry V, "O for a muse of fire A kingdom for 'a stage," .1 pray that readers will "piece-out, my imperfections" with, their thoughts, and I kiss, I in gratitude and admiration, the hands of Sybil Thorndike and Sylvia Welling. ._ '