PLAY GIVEN TO CAST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 9 (Supplement)

PLAY GIVEN TO CAST

EXPERIMENT IN LONDON A new kind of "co-optimism" in a theatre, in which the theatrical company have all the profits and run no risks, is being tried with great success at the Whitehall Theatre, London, where Mr. St. John Ervine's comedy, "Anthony and Anna," has been handed over to the cast by Mr. Mitchelhill, the theatrical manager, on terms which reveal a considerable public spirit. According to a contract signed by Mr. Mitchelhill and by Mr. Harold Warrender, Miss Jessica Tandy and the rest of the cast, ho not only gives them the West End rights of the play tor nothing, himself paying the author s royalties, but guarantees the rent of the theatro and the salaries or tlio stair, leaving all profits to the company. "I believed in the play so much, said Mr. Mitchelhill, "that after having seen it at Fulham I paid two options on it. Unfortunately, our opening date in London clashed with tho general election, and gave the play a poor start. Alter a few weeks I had practically decided to withdraw it, when the company approached me. They said they had such faith in tho play that they were prepared to work for a nominal salary. u This suggestion did not appeal to me, as I object to paying people below a salary I have contracted for. So 1 liave inaugurated this experiment, which puts tho company in the same position as were the 'Co-Optimists, except that they run no risks." Tho result has proved so satisfactory that during a recent week the company received their full salaries together with a dividend qf 25 per cent. As the author's royalties have increased in proportion, Mj\ St. John Ervine, who lias waited ton years for tho AVest End production of his play, must be also gratified. Meanwhile, Mr. Mitchelhill does hot receive a penny.