WAR’S LIGHTER SIDE,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12284, 5 April 1918, Page 8

WAR’S LIGHTER SIDE,

A THEATRE UNDER FIRE. How the New Zealanders Carried On. (From MALCOLM ROSS. War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces in the Field.) January 20. A little more than a year ago the New Zealanders decided to have their own theatre for the entertainment of their fighting men at the front- The general, quick to seize upon a. good idea, gave the word, and the head of that benevolent democratic autocracy known as the Q. Department, equally quick to act. waved, his magic wand, and lo! the theatre. The genesis of our theatre dates back to the beginning of December, 1916, when, after our return from the Somme, a paragraph appeared in Divisional Routine Orders asking for performers for a Pierrot Troupe. There was already in existence a small orchestra consisting of members of the Third Field Ambulance that used to play in its spare time at hospitals and rest stations. This was now handed over to the more ambitious organisation that was in process of development under the immediate direction of a machinegun officer, who. in the capital of faraway New Zealand, had been a leading “Savage” and musician. The first idea was to entertain the men of the division during the winter months only, after which the gay pierrots would go back to trench and dug-out for the summer fighting. , But the pierrots had come to stay. EARLY TRIALS.

The musical “Savage” machine'gun officer was dispatched to London with carte blanche to buy music and costumes. After many days he returned to try the voices that had heroically responded to the call in Routine Orders. These were various. Needless to say no Caruso was discovered. But, eventually, about a dozen men were chosen to don the motleyMeantime, the carpenters of the Maori Battalion had been set to work to build a theatre. The first theatre consisted of a light wooden framework covered with a cheap stuff with a highsounding, name, but which in reality was a sort of tarred paper that you could poke your finger through. As a matter of fact, vanous men who came late or who did noo think the performance worth the haltfranc that was charged for admission. Jid put their fingers through and made peep holes, by means ot wlucn they were able to view and hear somethin" of the performance free of cost. These were the days when the division ivas extra critical, and the. sceptics at tli- peep-holes were inclined to laugh at the soul of the Merryman moping mum and to make ribald about the jokes of the funny man. But the Pierrots stood their ground, hood it with as much gallantry and ?ven sang froid as they had stood ’the viprman shell-fire in the front line. They knew thuV the woist that could in open was n stra}' canlifloneij and that, in winter, in the Flanders war Aoue, would have been not unwelcome.

■The first performance was given on Boxing Day to the children of the Village. It was decided to try it on the French children first. Though they -lid not understand a word of what was said or snug, it was a good augury that they laughed. Any doubts that may have lingered in their minds about the success of the performance were dissipated at its close by the appearance cf a Father Christmas, who sent the happy audience away laden with Christmas gifts. The real “ first night ” was on Boxing Day. The costumes had not arrived, and the troupe played in khaki. There was one amusing incident. While the performance was in full swing there was a startling imitation of the shriek and explosion of a bursting shell. The pierrots were in a semi-circle on the stage, when; suddenly, came the shriek and the crash, and the lights went out. The big drum and the trombone played their parts, and the chairs on the stage were intentionally tipped over ns the lights went out. One of the chairs falling against the only back-cloth of the stage, that too fell, and it seemed ns if the whole theatre was about to topple down. This was too much for a. couple of Ala oris, who were sitting in the front row. They really thought the. theatre had been hit by a five-pcint-nine, so they rose hurriedly and bolted for their Jives. As none followed, they came hack to find the whole audience in fits of laughter “By crikey I” said one of them, his bewilderment overcome, “ that the dam good act.” In these days the stage was lit with acetylene lamps, but the lamps worked badly, and gave off such a smoke that the pierrots, who were white at the lwginnmg_ of the performance, were towards its end more like negro minstrels.

,• SOME STRANGE EXPERIENCES. That winter was one of the most severe experienced in Flanders, and the billets were cold and uncomfortable,. The French chateau is well remembered. Pierrots’ first billet was a farmhouse managed by a character who was known a b “The Angel." She was a very good sort, and looked after the ocys well, but our comrades from Kangaroo Land had been there; before us, and “The Angel" had acquired what was described to me as “a very solid Australian vocabulary.’’ Tins she mixed with her own voluble French, greatly to the amusement of the Pierrots. Fortunately “The Angel” and her two little children were quite ignorant of the meaning of most of tne words in the new vocabulary.

For a time the whole troupe, including the orchestra, lived in an estaminet. This was kept by a. woman, who, in addition to this new family of thirty-two, had a family of her own, so it may bo imagined that the piace was somewhat crowded, especially when a number oi customers from brigades quartered in the vicinity dropped in as well. The scone when the orchestra was practising. either independently or all together, and the proprietress, with three or four little children hanging on to her skirts was endeavouring to serve her clamouring cdstomers. was one never to be, forgotten, even though its outlines were' somewhat blurred by the cloud of tobacco smoke that filled the place from floor to ceiling. “ I think that woman was very delighted to see the last of us,” said the conductor of the orchestra, after he had left for fresh scenes.

Weeks passed and yet the costumes bought in London did not arrive. The management was in despair. There were no local tailors who could make them on the spot. Finally, of nil places in the world, they were made at a convent. The good nuns entered into the spirit of the joke. As they could speak little English_ and the pierrots less French, difficulties had to be smoothed away almost entirely by means of-’diagrams and tape measurements, with many pourquois on the side and a mixture of English and “ Nn-poo ” French on the other. Suitably clothed and altogether in the, right frame of mind the New Zealand Pierrots now proceeded along the road to success, and their fame spread. UNDER SHELL FIRE.

From the old Armentieres sector we shifted farther up the line, and the theatre was housed in a comfortable little hall in a small town. This was a. brick building, and the pierrots had quite a good stage, of which the scenic artist took full advantage. Here the troupe was joined by a sapper from the Engineers, a young Wellingtonian who had had a good deal of experience on the London and provincial stages. He joined up as producer and stage manager, and from that moment the show went ahead with splendid strides. All the performers began to improve, and the professional touch gave a finish to the entertainments that they had not before possessed. The girl, a neat-limbed young gunner, was quite a draw.

On many occasions this town was vigorously shelled by the Germans. One clay in particular ,is memorable, very heavy stuff came crumping and whoofing in, and about 5.30 p.m., just as the performance was about to start, two shells landed at the back of the theatre only ten yards away from the stage wall. This, in the language of the front line, rather put the wind up the fellows who were putting on tiie grease paint, hut they finished their making-up, and the performance ivas duly commenced. Twenty minutes afterwards there was an awful crash outside. Thirty yards away from the entrance a shell had burst on a house and blown it to bits. The orchestra ’ in the middle of one of their choice selections, became a little more win ay than before. But both pertoimeis and audience were evidently determined to “stick it.” However, a senior officer who was present went to the stage manager and told him that it would be wise to stop the performance as, there being so many men in a small space, there would undoubtedly be a heavy casualty list if a shell were to hit the building. The stage manager came before the footlights and explained that it was deemed advisable to get out. Then the audience rose as one man and went quietly awav. Ihey stayed not upon the order 0 f leu going and not even the Scotsmen remembered to ask for their money baC M J ? s^ a f tl,e Centre was cleared another shell landed and burst within about five yards of the front door. Theie were about a dozen casualties—flesh wounds and broken arms-and there was a good deal of blood about an S“ ™ »P and took Tt? 1 m ? re , scnous, r wounded. Ihe shelling of the town W c u t, on for some considerable time after that hip on no occasion did the German g ners get so close to the theatre. IN SYLVAN RET 11 Eat.

] \ aC L n °"' avrivCfl for the Non Zealand Division to undergo Us ti.lining for the memorable battle of ni f + i'°° P - S " Cre r>nl!c ’ {l Ot the line, and the pierrots were idven a change of scone. They made jaunts in several directions, and gave i )f . r f onil . ances to “Tommy” audiences. | n places they drew crowded audiences that were a. strange mixture of Eimhsb. Scottish, Irish and overseas troops, though the latter were in a decided minority. Open-air performance,s were also given. One such, in the beautiful grounds of a. chateau. The Baroness, who is famed for her hospitality to the British soldiers, entertained the pierrots right royally. Q n this occasion the asphalt lawn tenuis court formed the stage, and the only scenery was the beautiful frees that' grow so abundantly about, the o ld chateau, and the dim vistas awav beyond the canal that still gives water Uo what remains of the old moat. In the background, at respectful distance, some villagers came from the. reaping of their corn to watch the antics of the mummers and listen to their singing. It was a, perfect setting. Almost Lu such a sylvan scene you might have east an involuntary glance to see if Rosalind were wandering there beneath the shady elms. GETTING CLOSE IT.

One one. occasion the pierrots wont to give a concert on the slopes of Hill 63, which fronts Mes,sines. Needless to say, it was the reverse slope* that was chosen. The performers had their shrapnel helmets and their gas respirators at the ready, for you never quite knew what would happen at that corner. It, was a beautiful hot. dune Sunday afternoon, the swallows were

flitting about the wood, and the lark was singing in the blue just as if the world was as merry as ever it bad been. But, mixed with the orchestral accompaniment of the .pierrots, came the deeper bass of two six-inch howitzers that fired from an adjacent gunpit, and the scream and whoof of the German shells that, from time to time, went crashing into the locality. However, the pierrots got safely back that night to their billets at NieppeDuring the time we were in the Messines sector the pierrots gave, several open-air performances to brigades out of the Hue. The theatricals got shelled nut of one spot. A high-velocity gun blew things up into the trees. One night a lot of gas shells were sent over, and box-respirators became a necessity of the moment. After Mossines there was a trek to a district far behind the lines, where the troops were scattered over a considerable area, and the Y'.MT.O.A. presented the Divisional Theatre, with a huge marquee, which ever since has done good service. It will seat between eight and nine hundred men. From this place the pierrots travelled round in a motor-lorry, visiting the various battalions that were quartered in the adjoining villages and fqrms. At one of these villages the pierrots performed to a Canterbury battalion outside, an estaminet on a stage built of two barn doors resting on eight beer barrels. The audience occupied the village, square. The stage exits were through the windows of the bar-room. One of the performers distinguished himself by falling through the window. History does not record the number of his exits and his entrances. To' another battalion the pierrots, who had by this time become veritable barnstormers, played in a scrim-covered sbed. to get to which you had to wade through deep mud. 'Their dressing-room was made from a few biscuit tins and more scrim. It was brilliantly lit by a couple of candles. The artillery were also visited at their training ground, and an afternoon performance given at the same time as sports competitions were being decided. On occasions the applause for the Milo Handicap and “ I’ll Sing Thee Songs of Araby ” synchronised. Or there were times when the cheers for a sprint final broke in upon some more ambitions theme, causing a syncopation not warranted by the score. A TOUR TO THE BASE.

When the New Zealanders went forward to their attacks on the Graven-stnfel-Passchendaele ridges, no place could be found for the theatre, so the pierrots set their faces coastwards and established themselves for nearly three weeks at the New Zealand Base. They gave entertainments in various base depots and at hospitals. This tour form, ed a very pleasant outing, and was in the nature of a rest for the performers. They also played two nights at an army school. Everywhere they had crowded and enthusiastic audiences. PANTOMIME AND SHELL-FIRE. After some further goings and comings we found ourselves once more in what had been the old Yprea salient, and, in a ruined Belgian town that had been both prosperous and religious bpfor the war the pierrots met their marquee again. Another wave of the autocratic democratic hand, and, lo I a pantomime! Winter was already upon us, and discomfort gazed with leaden eyes across a devastated land. The great tent was cold and cheerless, and there was no dressing-room. Some English engineers who were'camped near by remedied the latter defect. They built a room in which the mummers could dress and make-up in some degree of comfort. The scenic artist got to work, and the famous city cf Bagdad began to materialise, for the Christinas pantomime was to be none other than “ Achi Baba, and the Forty Thieves.” The sapper from the Engineers was dispatched post-haste to London, and, after an absence of three wseeks, he returned with several large hampers, not of food, hut of costumes, many of which were very generously presented by Mr Oscar \Ascbe and Miss Lily Brayton, of “Clin Chin Chow ” fame. Other costumes were hired from London theatrical costumiers. Wigs from Clarkson’s and properties were included in the hampers. During these three weeks the orchestra was busily rehearsing the music. Then the O.C. “The Forty Thieves” and his merry men got to work in real earnest. For ten days now the theatre was closed down, and the play was rehearsed morning, noon and night. It goes without saying that many of ihe costumes, procured in n haphazard way, would not fit. For instance the Fairy Queen ot the London pantomime is probably not more than about fifteen inches ‘ round the waist, hut our musical conductor who took the part in Flanders is no lightweight. so that the circnmforencfT of this light, and airy robe had to he increased to something like forty inches —in inch for every thief in the play. The two English Rosebuds—a corpora! and a driver—required but a little less material. As the theatre was in the evacuated zone, seamstresses were unprocurable. but two members of the orchestra set to work and did all {lie sewing for the pantomime. They proved themselvfs worthy exponents' of tl )0 needle. Thev were able even to cone with the waist of the Fairy Queen. Eventually everyone was fitted out with costumes, the sergeant scenic artist had painted an ideal Bagdad, ami i the electrician had been busy with .lights ot red, white and blue, so that |we could have Bagdad by sunset and i Bagdad by night, and Bagdad looming up in the distance through “(he outer fringe of the forest.”

There was one thing rennnfeable about this pantomime. There were some fifteen principal parts in it, ro that, with the limited supply of artists available, all the principals Had to ho chorus, and all the chorus priiulipals. And as there were only eight; actors available for thieves, these had

to walk round eight times to make up the requisite number 0 f Captain Camomlage s brigand band. the opening night saw the theatre packed to the entrances, and hundreds turned away. The actors were letter cerioct the orchestra was really excellent, and the, whole pantomime went i i f vl , ng ;I,ld a that (greatlv delighted the crowded house. Night after night officers and men from till? New Zealand and from other divisions flocked to “ Achi Baba.” There was al"njs a queue at the ticket office, where officers paid their one franc and tin* men their half-franc for admission. A prince of the blood, and generals (both British and American), graced the performances with i.hoipresence, but in all the nightly throng there was never a woman’s face, unless, at: least, you looked to the stage, wherp, Alorgiann, the slave of Cogia. and Cnnen, in her beautiful Eastern draperies, really seemed as if she might just have stepped from the greenroom in Drury Lane. Certainly a stranger coming upon the scene would never nave known that she was lie.

And all the time the play went on to the whistling of military trains, the drone of the bombing planes, the resonant reports, of the cannon, and. at times the shriek and crash of enemy, shells. Once when the enemy planes were dropping bombs the light had to be suddenly switched off and the performance. was hung up for nearly half an hour. Up to date “ Achi Baba” is still being played to erowded bouses, and so excellent, is the performance that it seems likely to provide a record " run n at the front. During the year that, has just ceased the expenses of the Now Zealand Divisional Theatre have been 30,1-11 francs an d the t;,ki ngs 77,813 francs, leaving net receipts to the amount of ‘17,072* francs. The profits are, of course, put to good use in the interests of the men who were fighting in France and Belgiu IU.