CRAZIEST PLAY

Southland Times, Issue 25313, 17 June 1935, Page 5

CRAZIEST PLAY

RIOTOUS LAST NIGHT. “YOUNG ENGLAND” ENDS. London, May 25. “Young England,” London’s craziest play, came to an end this week after a nine-months’ run. Mr Frank Reynolds, the 84-years-old author, was unable to be there because he may have to undergo an operation. Mad as the scenes have been during the nine months’ run, the last night broke all records. Even the actors joined in the spirit of madness that existed among the audience. Instead of throwing water over the villain, the hero jammed the bucket on his head, and, as the curtain went down they were still rolling on the drenched floor of the stage. Those who were there for the first time heard nothing of the play. Once the play was completely held up by the first inan who had ever gone to sleep during a performance of this show. The actors stopped dead, while the whole row tried in vain to wake him up. They even lifted him, but he still slept on. Men got up and waltzed round the theatre and even the vigilant commissionaires did not attempt to restrain the fun. Yet this most talked-of play of recent years has not really been a great financial success. The business manager said: “It is only during the last few weeks that we have really been making money. The play has been by no means a failure, but it has certainly not been the phenomenal success from a financial point of view that is generally believed. This is chiefly owing to the limited capacity of some of the theatres in which it has been performed.”