PERFORMERS GO COLD : THEATRE HEATING CRITICISED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22670, 22 June 1948, Page 6

PERFORMERS GO COLD : THEATRE HEATING CRITICISED

Criticism of the lack of heating back-stage in most of the theatres in New Zealand was voiced by Webster Booth when speaking to members of the Gisborne Rotary Club at their weekly luncheon yesterday.

The theatres appeared to be well appointed from the box office to the curtain, said Mr. Booth, but behind that there were draughts which almost blew the performers off the stage. He was sure that if back-stage heating was installed more overseas artists would perform in the smaller towns in the Dominion. At present many of the theatres were not fit for them to appear in. Both he and his wife. Anne Zeigler, had found New Zealand audiences particularly receptive and very warm and understanding, however, and tnis helped tremendously. They were enjoying New Zealand from a scenic point of view, but had found the travelling facilities very bad. This also was partly the reason why leading overseas artists performed onlyin the main centres.

In this way they missed meeting the real people of New Zealand, said Mr. Booth, and they were well worth meeting. So far he and his wife had found their Dominion tour verv pleasant and they were sincerelv hoping that the rest of it would be as pleasant. The speaker was introduced by the president of the club. Mr. H. F. Wise, who also thanked Mr. Booth for the informal talk he had given to members on various incidents in England during recent years.