RENAISSANCE OF THE STAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18659, 30 August 1930, Page 9

RENAISSANCE OF THE STAGE

THE POSITION TO-DAY. SOME INTERESTING FACTS. Hope for the recovery of the stage in public favc r was expressed by Mr Eric Edgley of the Clem Dawe Company which plays in Timaru next week, in an interview with a newspaper representative. Mr Edgley's talk had reference mainly to the new situation created by the sudden invasion of the talking films, which involved the almost complete elimination of all other forms of entertainment. It was Mr Edgley’s opinion that the stage will regain at least a part of its lost ground “J do not want to draw invidious comparisons between stage productions and the talkies,” he said during the course of the interview. “The talkies were a novelty. They carried everything before them for a time, but now the public will not go to see a show merely because it is a talkie. It must be a good show, or it will fail. In pther words, they have dropped back to the level of the stage, where, unless a show is good, it cannot be expected to draw big houses. ‘‘The clearest evidence of all this is to be found in the United States. During the six months’ tour Mr Dawes and myself made of the United States and England we found that a stage had been reached there that will eventually be seen here. We were fortunate enough to meet Mr Mort Singer, head of the R.K.0., better known by its old name of Keith’s Orpheum Circuit, which controls 700 theatres. Mr Singer told me that when the talkies came he closed down all vaudeville and turned all the theatres into picture houses. The public responded, and it seemed as though the new conditions would be permanent. There came a gradual falling off, however, and, owing to lack of support, half talkies and half vaudeville was tried. It proved a failure, and eventually the way out w T as found in running one talkie special and a 40-minute revue show. Both From Scratch. “As the position is to-day, the talkies and the stage are both starting out from scratch again. Each of them has found the new level and from that will have to build as best they can. “As far as the stage is concerned, we have done away with a class of people who came into the business knowing nothing but the commercial side of it. We are back to the position where showmanship counts and will continue to count more and more. From a fresh start we shall build up to a place of importance in the community again, taking our place side by side with the talkies, which have their own problems to work out. “It is a question of entertainment value from now on. The public cannot be expected to pay for amusement they do not get. We must not only give good shows, but we must have showmanship in the presentation of them, and give the best it is possible to do for the admission that is charged. "The actors with the show have met the situation half-way. Since we started on the tour all our salaries have been cut. I should like the public to realise the fight we in the profession are making, and some of the things we are up against in dealing with unions, hundreds of members, many of whom have been put out of work. And yet they will not lift a finger to help to bring that employment back again. Interesting Figures. “Then there is another aspect of the w'hole position. A talkie comes out here in a tin, the freight on which is negligible, as is the amount of money spent locally in connexion with its production. “Bringing through a company such as ours is a different story altogether. For instance we paid £SOO for steamer fares to New Zealand, and it will cost the same when we return, making a total of £IOOO for this item alone. During our two and a half weeks’ tour of the North Island we paid the New Zealand Railways £420. It cost between £7O and £BO to bring us from Wellington to Christchurch, and during the week we are staying here a conservative estimate of the amount spent by the whole company would be £350. On top of all this comes the amount of income tax covering what we earn while we are in the Do- j minion. "That is the 'position as it is io- 1 day. and whether the burden will be 1 too heavy or not remains to lx* seen. It is for these reasons we are hoping ' the public will back us in the fight we ! are making."

Women officers at the London Metropolitan Police receive their training At Peel House, in mixed classes.