BOMB SCARE.

NZ Truth, Issue 60, 18 August 1906, Page 5

BOMB SCARE.

Lady Typist m Danger.

Auckland's Audacious Art Critics.

Curious Communication Causes Considerable Caution.

As Auckland readers have reason to know by medium of extensive advertising, a body of enthusitfstic amateurs have. this week been per- 4 'forming nightly at His Majesty's 'Theatre the musical play entitled, ''The Lady Typist." This muchly boomed production has had, we believe, . a fairfy successful run, but jju&fc what meed of support would have been accorded "The Lady Typtel" during the past few days, had the information we are about to publish been available last week, we hardly like to contemplate. In all probability the '-place would have Wen^as well patronised as a Crrey Lynn •'.hotel .nowadays ; but we anticipate, let details speak for themselves,: and our readers can rely upon it ihe-r are not merely rumors, but, astonishing, as they may appear,, absolutely authentic assertions, not Sounded on fact but on real truth.

The first performance of "The Lady Typist" billed .was for Monday, Ja'si;,.' August 13. Everything wo.s apparently working as smoothly as possible m an amateur theatrical •troduction and tht moving spirit, Dr. De Clive Lowe, author, lyrist, dress designer, scene designer and everything else,, smoled a smile of deep contentment. Then; the postman arrived with a letter for. the author-producer. What was the &i'tii<il wording of the missive is not known, but this much is : that when amateur-lyrist Lowe had finished pt-rusing that letter he couldn't have .waled if his life depended on the (t-ffort. To be explicit and avoid V' a ting- about the bush, tlr letter's eoiitents were to this effect : The ■writer explained that owing to some sjiidefined animus he or she hore a-jg-alnst the producers of "The Lady rrvuist." he or she purposed being piescnt at the opening performance on vViondav night and furthermore the wiiler announced, m simplest lanfia\ n y- that, to prevent the production feeing carried through, it was his or lier intention to throw a bomb, on tic stage, at some person, during the jjr-r;'ormance. , Dr. Lowe communicated with, the polifi 1 . What the guardians of the l(Ytv thought is best illustrated by deit 1 : 'iiu- their actions.

Shortly before the curtain ■ rose on Syicrtday night, two constables m uniffonn took up positions m each, separate part of tht, theatre. Follow ing them a detective came into view, also m each division of the hous.". The next sign of action was the aupciuance of Inspector Cullen m IliP dress circle. Detective Shine took up a position on the ctage m the wings and remained there during the whole nerformance. Lastly, but *>-• no means the least important precaution, as the anonymous bombtbrower had defined the gallery as 4lic -place .from which the bomb was •m be propelled, m the said nailery toehold senior Sergeant Hendrv. m

plain clothes, surrounded by four constables, also m plain clothes.

And after all this, what happened was that a particularly pulseless play dragged out its weary course until 11.20 and the curtain finally descended on the completion of a speech demanded from the author by a parochial and bucolic audience who didn't strike anyone as having nerve among the whole bunch to throw a richly deserved brick, let alone a bomb. Doubtless, if interrogated, the police and play-writer will pooh-pooh the idea of any such anxiety or imminent danger as recorded here. The^ may even deny the receipt of an anonymous letter, as asserted. The artistes, would probably deny it and the theatre staff will know nothing about it ; yet such is authority that readers may rest assured the bomb scare was, a vVery actual fact, although luckily the bomb itself was but a hoax. Anyway, if the police belittle our report of the occurrence the presence on Monday night of Inspector Cullen and a whole host of his men, including Hendry and Shine, to say nothing of Number 110 who gave the impression of being an expert bomb-throwing theorist, at the opening of a performance by an amateur theatrical company, will want some explanation and the one given will want a lot of beating.

There was a little impromptu scene added to the first perfarmance of "The Lady Typist" on Monday night which the public were not allowed to participate in-. The "veritable sensation received with extraordinary enthusiasm by a wildly delighted audience." (vide i Tuesday's advertisements) concluded wearily Shortly after eleven and the audience, whether from gratitude or. curiosity to view that concocter of a "veritable sensation," m the flesh shouted for "the author," and after making certain there was no intention of lynching him, the author, "Mr Thomas Humphries," otherwise Dr. De Clive Lowe, appeared before the curtain, wearing an expansive shirt-front and a ditto smile, and thanked the audience for the kind reception of his play and himself. He thanked them from the bottom of his heart, m fact. He also desired to .thank Mr Sam Jackson and wife for training the chorus, ditto repeato Mr Fred Graham for his excellent stage work YFred's share of the bunce is £200), was exceedingly grateful to Mr William Diamond, the. scenic a?tist (whose portion of the plunder is £120). The author polished his speech off toy thanking the principals and chorus. He thanked the stage carpenter ; thanked the whole world, m fact, he was so grateful. "Whether the gratitude was inspired by getting off without being mobbed wasn't clear exactly. Amid mighty applause, from deadheads particularly, the mutual admiration shivoo ended. . , Then the unrehearsed incident behind the scenes occurred.. It appears that if the delighted doctor ought to have thanked on? person more than another for the crowded house and the success of the show, that peirson was Mr A.G. Mabee, business manager. Mafoee had worked like a Trojan all through ard this deliberate, or apparently deliberate, snubbing m the author's speech got on his nerves. and a little later there were angry *em#ks "behind," ending m a nosepuliing^acttbot wasn't m the original plot of the play *& all. .Tuesday was spent- principally 'm broaching bottles of fiz m gallant endeavors to heal the -breach. That these t» ore successful may 'be presumed from the fact that "the Lady Typist" w stdjtapping, away merrily, as (this isheing indited.