FROZEN OUT

Southland Times, Issue 20171, 6 May 1927, Page 8

FROZEN OUT

MUNICIPAL THEATRE THEATRICAL MANAGER’S STATEMENT DIFFICULTY OF ARRANGING DATES While Dunedin and other northern cities visited are to be given the benefit of the “No, No Nanette” Company’s full repertoire, Invercargill has to be content with one afternoon and two evening performances of that play. The reason for this was given by Mr. J. Farrell, touring manager for J. C. Williamson’s Ltd., while on a visit to Invercargill recently. Mr. Farrell condemned in round terms the contract drawn up between the CorI>orat.ion and the proprietor of the Civic Pictures. “I have heard it said,” he remarked during his visit, “that Williamson’s won’t send a company to Invercargill because it would not pay. There is no truth in that statement. A three-night season would pay us handsomely, and furthermore we would be able to give our full repertoires. Under this absurd agreement we are cut out of Wednesdays and Saturdays. We would be prepared to play ‘No, No Nanette’ and ‘Lady Be Good’ if we could get three nights running; but no.” “Why didn’t Pavlova come to Invercargill?” he continued. “She was willing to come and the Invercargill people wanted her to come down. But the proprietor placed an exorbitant price—£lso—on his theatre for a Saturday evening and froze us out. Why did we not play ‘Wild Thyme’ and ‘Katja’ here? Why did we cancel the preliminary arrangements in con. nection with ‘White Cargo,’ one of the finest plays ever brought to New Zealand? Because we could not get the nights we wanted. “Mind you I don’t blame the picture proprietor for trying to get all he can out of his contract. is his business; nor do I blame Williamson’s for refusing to undertake a trip run at a loss; but I do blame the Corporation for framing an agreement that prevents the public from seeing the best we have to offer in the theatrical line. You have a well appointed theatre; why not use it ? You have a theatre-loving public who want the best we have to offer; let us give it to them. Invercargill is gradually being cut but of everything in the theatrical line. We want to come and will come if it is possible. Meet us half-way and we will be there.”