From a Theatre Box Office.

Otago Witness, Issue 2168, 12 September 1895, Page 49

From a Theatre Box Office.

"People who book seats at theatrea often show marked peculiarities," s*id the box-office clerk attached to one of the most popular theatres in London. "For instance, I know an eminent barrister who always insists upon having one particular seat — a teat immediately on cither side of it will not do for him. " A* to ' first-nighter*,' I have here a list of nearly 60 persons for whom I am exptcted, with or without special instructions, to book certain specified seats for every first night. Sometimes I have to alter tlie numbers of these seats on my lihfc in relation to individual sitters, because one of the latter will call and say : " • I find that I always sit next to Mr So-and £0 ; tbi» ia very unpleasant, as wo have not been on spraking terms for some t'me. I must have another s?nt.' " I have quite a dozen ladies and gentlemen on my liet who respectively book seats for a whole year, and actually occupy them several times a week. Candidly speaking, we sometimes have a difficulty about the cheque in these matters. " I know one gentleman of weak intellecthe is s&id to be absolutely insane, and to understand nothing that he sees— who has, with an attendant, had>seftta booked h«re once a week for years. He attends other theatres in the Eatne way. " I have frequently booked members of the Royal Family who wished to attend quietly and incognito to the stalls, and on on* occasion to tho upper circle. I once booked a party of five in this way — three of them being royal princssseß."