EATING FISH AT THE PLAY

Evening Star, Issue 18052, 21 August 1922, Page 5

EATING FISH AT THE PLAY

One of the curious places to visit in a great city is the Yiddish theatre—curious because of the audience rather than because of the stage performanccs. Mr Gar] Van Vechtcn, in his book of reminiscences, ‘ In the Garret,’ describes a Yiddish theatre on the Bowery in New York. There is a prodigious amount of eating done in the Yiddish theatre. Mr Maurice Schwartz, the director of the new Irving Place Theatre, determined to put a slop to this practice, whidh is disconcerting to any serious auditor, and is almost unbearable to the casual theatre-goer of another race. Therefore he allowed' no concessions inside his theatre to foodi vendors, and at the door lie stationed; a man whoso duty it was to take fond away from people who came in, and check it until they went out again, One very old man came one night with his family and a large market basket full of baked fish ! This was gently but firmly removed from Iris grasping fingers by the man at the door. “ I’ve been coming to the Yiddish theatre now for thirty-five years,’’ ho protested’, “and such a thing has never .happened to mo before. Shall I get it hack?” Ho was assured that his fish would bo waiting for him after the final curtain; but it is reported that he did not enjoy the play, and loft early, saying that he was hungry.