SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15492, 23 April 1918, Page 7

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —The dramatic critic sums up the legitimate performance of Miss Ada Reeve’s company at the Opera House on Saturday night and the benefit performance by the Swankers’ Club at His Majesty’s on the following (Sunday) evening by stating that at the latter Miss Reeve was the magnet who drew a crowded house, even to hundreds turned away. And this house panned out at 3d per head! Most generous public! Sir Critic is unstinted in his praise of this most generous and untiring little lady, whose efforts have benefited our soldiers to such an extent, but the mantle of shame must have covered nearly every theatre patron's cheek, after having partially recovered from the shock of the 3d per head stigma, to find space devoted to the complaints of members of Saturday’s audience, who were heard to complain of the high p.rices of admission, viz., 6/-, 3/-, and 2/ —the usual prices, I think, charged by all first-rate companies, and for the matter of that, mediocre ones, too. Were these folk responsible for the overwhelming and prolonged applause in response to which Miss Reeve contributed 13 items? And one must remember that she had spent a strenuous afternoon at the Soldiers’ Club. Or was the applause the hearty recognition of talent from the theatre patrons of Wanganui who are capable of appreciation—patrons who prefer art to melodrama at cheap rates? Was 3d per head all that Miss Reeve’s talent was worth, and that in conjunction with local talent of no mean order? In conclusion, might I say it would have shown a finer spirit to eliminate the paltry complaints of a few mean people who expect much for little, and to have given space to the fact that Miss Ada Reeve male a personal contribution of £lO to Sunday evening’s list. It might have sent the little lady away with a higher opinion of our townspeople than the impression she must have received had she read the local criticisms. Please Heaven!—for our shame’s sake—she was too tired after her second afternoon’s charity tc our soldier boys—This time at the local hospital. They appreciated her performance, didn’t they? That's why the soldiers of Australasia love and esteem her so,—l am, etc., A PATRON.