A SHOWMAN SPEAKS

Evening Star, Issue 23113, 12 November 1938, Page 12

A SHOWMAN SPEAKS

GOOD PRODUCTIONS MAKE MONEY SIR BEN FULLER'S 43 YEARS AS IMPRESARIO “ I know there are those who believe that the theatre as we knew it in pre-war days will never return again, but I am not one of them,” said Sir Benjamin Fuller, theatre proprietor and impresario, Sydney, in an interview on Thursday at Wellington. “ The people of New Zealand never went away from the theatre; it was the theatre which went away from the people. “ I think I know something of what I am speaking about. I have been 43 years in management in this country, and I have 'yet to see a really good show lose money, other than through had luck with the weather or encountering epidemics. The good show will always draw audiences. When you see a big show that does not do so you will invariably find that there is _ a weakness somewhere. I have seen instances of that sort of thing over and over again—managements blame the public when they might with a greater show of justice blame themselves. 1 speak as one who has sent over indifferent shows to New Zealand—and lost money on them. Had such shows been good ones, I am sure I would not have lost on them. It always seems to work out that way. “ I will give you a concrete instance. In Sydney a picture was being made. From time to time paragraphs appeared in the papers giving interesting angles on the subject of the picture and its actors, working up quite a little interest with the public, but as soon as it came to a double-page display in one of the papers that interest appeared to wane. The public evidently thought that if a picture wanted all that spent upon it, perhaps it was not so good after all. The same thing was cartooned in America when I was last there. It was the exterior of a •picture palace with a hoarding the size of _the theatre announcing the greatest epic of all times, the most profoundly moving love story, and so on. Down below was a young couple looking up af the hoarding, the man saying; ‘ Shall we a chance?’ SHOWS IN AUSTRALIA. “ I, am saying this because the law applies to the picture just as much as to the theatre proper'. Give ’em the show and they’ll come along,” Sir_ Benjamin ■ said that the biggest artistic show in Australia at the present time was the Covent Garden Russian Ballet, which was doing big business in'Melbourne;' but as the management had to take £3,000 a week to break even,- without considering profit at all, .it was hardly likely that the ballet would he sent to -the Dominion. It was a'fine show; but it could not very well be- cut • down in a satisfactory manner to make it possible to tour New Zealand with any prospect of success. Sir Benjamin also mentioned the advent in Melbourne ■of the American play, ‘ The Women,’ said to be one of the most daring-plays-ever staged in the country. ‘ The - Women..’ v~s written by Clare Booth, wife of one of the chief editors of the weekly journal ‘Time.’ It was a play which.'all to judge for themselves. ;v. Among the old-timers who ' turned up recently in Melbourne • were ■ Allen Doone. and-Edna: Keeley..playing, their simple Irish melodies of long ago. Mr Doone did' not’ see'ni' to' he greatly handicapped by'the passing years. ' Sir Benjamin said- he thought that Mr Doone intended later to visit New Zealand.

The brightest news Sir Benjamin had to give, was that the famous Howard ‘ Hollywood Hotel ’ revue, which is' now in its second month at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, will open at the Grand Opera House, Wellington, on Saturday, _ December 24 (Christmas Eve). This is a full-sized American revue show, packed with specialties and replete with lavish costumes, lovely scenery, and a regiment of Hollywood beauties. _ The ‘ Sydney Morning Herald ’ said that it was the brightest revue seen in Sydney, which was something from such a conservative source. After the close of the Sydney season the company was to play a brief season in Brisbane and then come on to Wellington.

It is many years since the public of New Zealand have seen a first-class illusionist.- Sir Benjamin is reintroducing to New Zealand Nikola, one of the cleverest of American artists in this direction, who is returning with a complete repertoire of new and spectacular illusions. With him is a company of 15 people, including some talented specialty artists from the United States, none of whom has visited New Zealand before. Nikola is on board the Niagara, due at_ Auckland next week. He will begin his tour of New Zealand in Auckland on November 19.