AN INTERESTING PERSONALITY

Southland Times, Issue 23229, 18 June 1937, Page 8

AN INTERESTING PERSONALITY

HEAD OF MARCUS SHOW COMPANY CONTENT TO FOLLOW LEADER Probably the outstanding character in the Marcus Show is the presiding genius, A. B. Marcus himself. A sombre figure, clad in a heavy overcoat and black Homburg hat, he wanders backstage like a lost soul, quite our of place to all appearances in such a festive scene. And yet his sombreness, like his overcoat, is but an outward cloak, for “A. B.” has a ready wit and an appraising eye, especially when it comes to selecting girls for his famous shows. The chorus itself is an eloquent testimonial to the discerning power of his eye, and shows that he has gone far and wide in his search for types, be they black-eyed exotic Mexicans or platinum blonde Americans. ' Always he is watching the show—sometimes from the auditorium whence he returns with an idea, and submits it to his wife, who will either approve or condemn it, and the rest of the time backstage, where he is never in the same place for two consecutive minutes. ~ , . , ■> Slightly corpulent and with his hands plunged deep into his overcoat pockets, he is definitely a personality, and everyone connected with the show knows that what he says, to express it colloquially, goes. He speaks with a slightly gutteral accent, and is, in fact, typical of his profession. •An interesting commentary on his character is the fact that not one person in his show has a contract. He is known in the theatra world as a man .of his word and his employees are content to accept him as such and follow wherever he may take them. After New Zealand that will be Australia, and after Australia a tour of Japan has been arranged. The company was in Japan three years ago and was booked to play there a second time for the opening of a new theatre. Just as it had packed up for this tour, advice was received that a flaw had developed in the cement work of the theatre and its trip to the East was postponed. Mr Marcus had had an offer from Fullers and as a result, the company set sail for New Zealand instead.