“ABSOLUTELY BOOMING.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 519, 30 July 1932, Page 13

“ABSOLUTELY BOOMING.”

Interesting Observations on Stage Abroad. Two popular Australian stage personalities who have won fame for themselves in London, Miss Madge Elliott and Mr Cyril Ritchard, arrived in Wellington on Tuesday by the Maunganui at the head of the “ Blue Roses ” Company. When interviewed, Mr Ritchard made some interesting observations about the stage abroad. “ One hears a lot of complaints about the death of the theatre,” he said, ‘‘but it is only the picture magnates who talk like that. Never has more money been spent on productions in London, and never have there been more shows than there are at the present time; and except for the usual first summer failtares through lack of attendances, things jare absolutely booming.” One of the most recent innovations in London was the continuous vaudeville, -which started at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and ran right through until 1 o’clock the next morning without an interval. It was an excellent attraction fcr people who were in to-wn for just an hour or so.

At one theatre alone the booked seat for the first week amounted to £3OOO.

Another important feature of the London stage was the German influence, w'hich was being felt to a great extent. The Germans were an amazing people, with very artistic ideas, and they applied those artistic ideas to the ’ practical in the theatre, especially in the production of opera. Lately there *had been a marked return to the Viennese operetta, and German producers had been brought across to London. One thing that was not so good for the English actors was that German actors were usually capable linguists and after a few weeks’ study of their parts could perform to the satisfaction of London audiences. That, however, applied only to straight parts, and not to humour. American jazz was being put a bit in the background at present, ft was very pleasing to be able to record that romance was coming back to the theatre again. Since he was here last in “ The Cabaret Girl,” Mr Ritchard has travelled fr and seen much of the stage in America and London. He first went to America (while Miss Elliott returned to Australia), and within a fortnight secured a contract in New York with Florenz Ziegfeld, the famous producer, whose death was announced this week.