DRAMATIC ART

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 9 (Supplement)

DRAMATIC ART

EFFECT OF THE TALKIES ! REPERTORY THEATRES ■ The place of the talkies in relation to the legitimate stage, and the development ' of the repertory theatre movement, were interestingly reviewed by Mr. John 1< uller in Dunedin last week. Mr Fuller, the wellknown director of the Fuller-Hay ward combine, is making one of his periodic business trips to tho Dominion. " As far as the talkies and the flesh-and-blood stage are concerned, I think it is a case of fifty-fifty," said Mr. duller. " The talkies have to be something good to attract the people, and it is the same with the stage. The talkies have really taken the place of the stock entertainments. Only the great stars can attract the audiences on the stage.' " One great thing about to-day is that it is the day of Hie amateur. Many repertory theatres are forming 111 which amateurs, who never had a chance when the stage was at its height, are developing. In a few years there should be a wonderful supply of talent' for the stage and the talkies. They receive a wonderful training in the repertory theatre, which is well supported, providing judgement in choosing plays is shown. N ea J''y every town has a repertory theatre society, and if it is not well supported it is its own fault, because it is what the people like. These are hustling times though, and the plays have to be quick action. I hope this little hint will be of use to the local players, because it is the only difference between success and taiiure There are a lot of theatres to spare, owing to tho change, and the societies should flourish, because of the support they receive and the reasonable rents of the theatres, whether they are, municipallv owned or otherwise. Ihe repeitorv theatres have a chance of advancement in the art that they did not. have in other days, if they make a study of the famous stars in great pictures which are not over-frequent, but come to JSew Zealand from time to time. " One thing tho talkies have done, and that is to awaken the people of every English-speaking nation to the value or correct speaking and the abolition of dialects. The people demand better films, and it is wonderful in the far-back towns how people respond to better films which a few years ago they would have laughed at bv reason of their not. understanding true "dramatic art which the talkies have placed at their disposal, even in the smallest towns where the dramatic artists could not appear. These people have now , the privilege of seeing the world s greatest artists apart from the enlightening travel pictures and newsreels, which bung ; the world to the feet of those who can t afford to travel."